Kundi launches KP cleanup drive, pledges coordination with Centre

PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi announced on Monday that a province-wide cleanliness campaign and an operation against encroachments had begun in Peshawar. He pledged that recommendations, political pressure and personal influence would not be allowed to interfere with the enforcement drive.

Speaking to reporters, Kundi said the administration intended to extend the campaign across the province and prioritise development projects that deliver measurable improvements. His remarks placed urban management, public spaces and the quality of government projects among the immediate areas requiring attention.

The governor also disclosed that an inquiry had been initiated into the wheat shortage affecting the province. He said its findings were expected soon, although he did not announce a specific completion date or identify any officials or institutions that might be held responsible.

Kundi pledged that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa would coordinate with the federal government and Pakistan’s other provinces. He said previous differences would be put aside so the governments could work together as one unit, shifting attention from political disputes towards development targets and service delivery.

The commitment carries added political significance because Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is operating under emergency arrangements introduced amid concerns over terrorism and provincial security. An official security meeting on October 11 was told that the situation remained peaceful following the emergency’s imposition, while political leaders have continued debating the conditions under which the measures could end.

The cleanliness initiative follows an October 15 review of the Peshawar Uplift Development Plan. That meeting examined projects involving Budhni Nullah, slaughterhouses, food and vegetable markets, water-supply schemes and the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Cities Improvement Project, indicating that the latest campaign forms part of a broader effort to improve the provincial capital.

Kundi additionally said a meeting had been called to review traffic laws and improve the traffic-management system. No detailed timetable was announced, but the combination of traffic reform, encroachment removal and sanitation measures suggests that authorities are concentrating first on visible municipal problems in Peshawar before widening implementation.

The wheat inquiry may prove the most consequential element for residents because any shortage can affect flour availability and household costs. Its value will depend on whether the promised report identifies the causes of the shortfall, sets out corrective measures and is released promptly enough for authorities to act on its findings.

The next test will be implementation. Progress can be assessed through the reach of the cleanliness campaign, transparent handling of encroachment operations, publication of the wheat inquiry and completion of the development and traffic measures announced by the governor.