PESHAWAR: Chief Minister Muhammad Sohail Afridi on Friday approved the initiation of a pre-feasibility study for the railway section connecting Peshawar, Nowshera and Jahangira along with the allocation of Rs13.162 million for this purpose.

Mr Afridi, while chairing a meeting of Board of Directors of the KP Urban Mobility Authority in Peshawar, also directed that the preliminary feasibility study for Peshawar–Torkham railway project be expedited on a priority basis in order to enhance regional trade and strengthening cross-border connectivity.

A statement issued from the chief minister’s secretariat said that the meeting undertook a comprehensive review of key issues pertaining to the improvement of urban mobility systems across the province, with a particular focus on sustainable solutions to traffic congestion and the promotion of modern transport infrastructure.

Participants were briefed in detail on ongoing initiatives as well as the forward roadmap and a range of proposals were presented to enhance the efficiency, integration and modernisation of the urban transport ecosystem in line with emerging mobility needs.

Emphasising the strategic importance of the project, the chief minister said that Peshawar, Nowshera and Jahangira railway section would significantly improve regional connectivity and facilitate more efficient movement of people and goods.

He directed the relevant authorities to ensure timely completion of the feasibility study in accordance with technical and professional standards.

During the meeting, the chief minister approved Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Urban Mobility Authority to enter into a consultancy agreement with Pak-Austria Fachhochschule Institute of Applied Sciences.

The collaboration aims to leverage advanced technical expertise and international best practices to strengthen project design and implementation, the statement read, adding Mr Afridi approved the associated terms and conditions, budgetary provisions and related expenditures.

Reiterating the government’s commitment to sustainable urban development, the chief minister ordered the authority to proactively develop innovative, data-driven and forward-looking proposals to address growing traffic challenges and improve both intra-city and inter-district connectivity.

He underscored the need to align urban mobility systems with contemporary standards to ensure safe, efficient and accessible transport services for public.

Published in Dawn, April 18th, 2026