Chief Minister Sohail Afridi has approved a new general hospital and an electric bus project for Peshawar Ring Road under the upcoming KP Annual Development Program.
Key Decisions Taken at Consultative Meeting
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi has approved two major development initiatives for Peshawar — a new general hospital and an electric bus service for the Peshawar Ring Road. Both projects will be included in the province’s upcoming Annual Development Program (ADP), signalling a renewed focus on healthcare and sustainable urban transport in the provincial capital.
The decision was made during a consultative meeting of parliamentarians from the Peshawar region held at Pakhtunkhwa House in Islamabad. The session was attended by senators, members of the National Assembly (MNAs) and members of the Provincial Assembly (MPAs), who gathered to discuss development priorities for the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Annual Development Program 2026–27.
Participants reviewed a list of potential projects for Peshawar and surrounding areas, with a particular focus on improving essential services such as healthcare, transport, and urban infrastructure. Chief Minister Afridi emphasised that the ADP should reflect the real needs of citizens and deliver measurable improvements in their daily lives, rather than spreading resources too thinly across low-impact schemes.
New General Hospital to Serve Peshawar Residents
One of the headline announcements was the approval of a new general hospital for Peshawar. The chief minister directed the relevant authorities to execute the project on a fast-track basis, noting that the city’s population has grown rapidly and existing healthcare facilities are under increasing pressure.
The planned hospital is expected to ease the burden on major public-sector institutions by adding more beds, specialist departments and diagnostic services. While detailed design and capacity figures will be finalised at a later stage, provincial officials have indicated that the facility will be equipped to handle both emergency and routine cases from across the city and nearby districts.
By expanding public healthcare infrastructure in the provincial capital, the government aims to reduce patient load on crowded hospitals, improve access to treatment for low-income families and cut down long waiting times for critical services.
Electric Bus Service Planned for Peshawar Ring Road
In a move aligned with cleaner and more efficient public transport, the chief minister also approved the inclusion of an electric bus project for the Peshawar Ring Road in the upcoming ADP. The proposed service will operate on key sections of the Ring Road, providing commuters with an alternative to conventional buses and private vehicles.
Electric buses are expected to help reduce fuel consumption, cut tailpipe emissions and improve air quality in the city, which has seen rising traffic and pollution in recent years. The project will likely involve the development of charging infrastructure, bus stops and supporting facilities, along with measures to integrate the new service with existing transport networks.
Alongside the electric bus initiative, Chief Minister Afridi approved a feasibility study for a second Ring Road around Peshawar. The study will examine route options, costs and potential benefits in terms of easing congestion, particularly for heavy traffic that currently passes through densely populated areas.
Constituency-Based Proposals for the 2026–27 ADP
To make the development program more responsive to local needs, the chief minister asked parliamentarians from the Peshawar region to submit constituency-based development proposals to the Chief Minister Secretariat by 15 March. These inputs will be considered during the finalisation of the ADP for 2026–27.
Afridi stressed that projects should be prioritised based on public need, practical impact and readiness for timely execution. He underlined that the forthcoming ADP would focus on completing ongoing schemes, avoiding delays and ensuring that taxpayers’ money is channelled into projects that deliver visible benefits on the ground.
The combination of a new hospital, cleaner public transport and better urban planning reflects an effort to align Peshawar’s development agenda with long-term needs. As the city expands and traffic increases, investment in health services and mobility infrastructure has become more urgent.
Aligning Development with Peshawar’s Long-Term Needs
Provincial officials say that the inclusion of these projects in the ADP will help lay the foundation for a healthier and more connected Peshawar. If implemented effectively, the new hospital and electric bus service could ease everyday pressures on residents, cut travel times and support greener growth in the provincial capital.
The Standing Committee and government departments will now work on detailed planning and budgeting for these initiatives, with progress to be reviewed as part of the regular ADP monitoring process in the coming financial year.
