KHYBER: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi on Tuesday reviewed development progress in Khyber tribal district and inaugurated multiple development projects, saying the provincial government is focusing on modern education, improved healthcare, infrastructure development and positive youth engagement.

“Public welfare and protection of citizens’ rights remain the top priority on which no compromise will be made,” he said during a function here.

During the visit, the CM inaugurated the upgradation of the Government College of Engineering and Technology Jamrud to Applied Sciences, formally opened 50 newly constructed and rehabilitated educational institutions in terrorism affected areas in militancy-hit Bara tehsil, inaugurated the completed Bara Bypass Road, launched the Sehat Sahulat Programme at DHQ Hospital Jamrud and inaugurated a special maternal and child nutrition facility, along with several other public welfare projects.

He said those development initiatives reflected a comprehensive government strategy aimed at promoting modern education, strengthening infrastructure, improving healthcare services and encouraging positive activities across the province.

Afridi reviews uplift work, inaugurates multiple projects in Khyber

Mr Afridi said that the government was taking concrete steps to address the long standing deprivations of the people of underdeveloped districts.

He said that decisions would be made strictly in the interest of the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and that the government would not step back even an inch in safeguarding those interests.

During the inauguration ceremony for the upgradation of Government College of Engineering and Technology Jamrud, the CM said that modern academic programmes, including Artificial Intelligence, Data Science, Robotics and Software Engineering, would give a new direction to education in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

He said the outdated education system had been producing unemployment, whereas the current government was moving towards a modern, market oriented education framework.

Mr Afridi said that state-of-the-art laboratories and modern libraries were being established in colleges across the province for the first time and that the advanced education model would be gradually expanded from throughout the province.

He emphasised that the government sought to empower youth through education and knowledge and that global competition was impossible without modern science and technology.

The CM said that decisions would no longer be dictated from Islamabad or Rawalpindi, but would instead be taken in accordance with the interests of the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and in line with the vision of PTI founder Imran Khan and the party’s manifesto.

He declared the imprisonment of Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi as unjust and expressed serious concern over violations of their fundamental rights.

Mr Afridi said that despite Imran Khan’s deteriorating health, his personal doctors had not been allowed access.

He revealed that he was stopped more than 12 times from visiting Adiala Jail and that his name was placed on the stop list in a discriminatory move.

The CM said that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was a federating unit of Pakistan, yet an unequal and unfair attitude was being adopted towards its chief executive.

He said that if such treatment could be meted out to a CM, one could only imagine the plight of an ordinary citizen.

Mr Afridi complained that he approached the Islamabad High Court and the Supreme Court but received no relief, adding that all constitutional, legal, and democratic avenues had been exhausted.

“When all doors are closed on you, peaceful protest becomes the only option, which will be carried out strictly within the framework of the Constitution and law,” he said.

The CM also inaugurated 50 reconstructed and rehabilitated schools in Bara and surrounding terrorism affected areas of District Khyber, rebuilt with financial and technical assistance from the government of China.

He emphasised that extremism would be countered through education, benefiting thousands of students by providing them a safe and quality learning environment.

Later, the CM inaugurated the completed Bara Bypass Road, which has a total length of 7km and includes a 152-metre bridge with a construction cost of Rs1.32 billion.

He also inaugurated a special maternal and child nutrition facility at DHQ Hospital District Khyber. He said that under this programme, screening, diagnosis, and treatment services will be provided to malnourished children and women, ensuring quality nutritional support for mothers, children, and other patients.

He also formally launched the Sehat Sahulat Programme at the hospital, stating that deserving families will now be able to access free, quality healthcare services at their doorstep, fulfilling a long standing need of the area’s underprivileged population.

Also, the CM launched work on the preservation and restoration project of Bab e Khyber, describing it as a symbol of the province’s history, culture, heritage, and national identity. He said that over time, harsh weather conditions, pollution, and heavy traffic vibrations had caused damage to the monument, making its conservation and restoration essential.

Mr Afridi also inaugurated the Merged Districts Under 16 Boys Games at Jamrud Sports Complex.

He said the games provided an excellent opportunity for youth from tribal districts, adding that despite immense talent, adverse conditions had prevented it from emerging.

“Through such sports events and other positive activities, this talent will be introduced at national and international levels”, he said and noted that the youth of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have already demonstrated outstanding performance in cricket, hockey, and other sports.

Published in Dawn, February 12th, 2026