PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government is preparing to introduce the province’s first-ever Street Economy Law, aiming to protect the livelihoods of more than 140,000 street vendors.
Chief Minister Sohail Afridi said the draft of the Ehsaas Rehri Ban Rozgar Tahaffuz Bill 2025 has been completed and will soon be submitted to the cabinet for approval. The law is designed to formally safeguard the rights of street vendors, providing long-term legal protection and integrating them into the province’s economic framework.
The Rs380 billion street economy will now operate under a structured legal system. Registered vendors will be shielded from harassment and bribery, with anti-encroachment operations prohibited without prior notice. The law also ensures access to microfinance, credit, insurance, and emergency support, enabling vendors to maintain and grow their businesses.
Under the new system, safe vending zones will be established, and vendors will receive a Street Vending Certificate granting official recognition and protection. Tehsil vending committees will include mandatory vendor representation, giving them a formal role in local decision-making.
Afridi said the law reflects the government’s commitment to a welfare state where all citizens, including street vendors, receive equal protection under the law. “We honour the hard work and dignity of street vendors and will restore their long-lost self-respect,” he said.
The bill will be presented to the provincial assembly following cabinet approval.
