Afridi orders model schools, colleges
Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Muhammad Sohail Afridi has directed officials to place quality education and healthcare at the heart of the province's Annual Development Programme (ADP) for 2026-27, describing them as top priorities in line with the vision of PTI founder Imran Khan.
Chairing a high-level meeting at the Chief Minister's House in Peshawar to finalise preparations for next year's development outlay, Afridi called for the establishment of model schools and colleges across the province and urged immediate allocation of emergency funds to these two critical sectors.
"Under Imran Khan's vision, health and education remain our foremost priorities. Funds for these sectors will be released on an emergency basis," the Chief Minister said. He also instructed officials to prepare a comprehensive scholarship programme for talented students to study at internationally renowned universities, with the provincial government bearing all educational expenses.
Afridi emphasised the vast potential among the province's youth. "Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa's young people possess immense talent. They are our most valuable asset, and we are making heavy investments in them by providing better opportunities," he added.
The meeting was informed that the ADP 2026-27 will serve as a comprehensive roadmap for the province's all-round development, with new schemes giving top priority to job creation, education, healthcare, and provision of basic amenities.
According to the briefing, 218 high-priority projects will be completed during the next financial year. Of the total ADP allocation, 80 per cent will be released for ongoing schemes while 20 per cent will be earmarked for new initiatives. Authorities have proposed 39 new signature projects across various sectors.
A major highlight of the programme is the inclusion of the Rs1 trillion Roshan Qabail Package specifically for the merged tribal districts to accelerate their socio-economic uplift. The establishment of a Health City and a Tribal Medical College have also been incorporated.
Modernisation initiatives feature prominently in the plan. These include virtual classrooms, bag-free schools, and the introduction of Artificial Intelligence in school curricula. Other key components are the establishment of a Tribal University, an integrated development package for Upper Chitral, expansion of the Panahgah shelter network, the Zamong Kor network, and dedicated schools for special children.