K-P plans scooters for women, students

The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government has decided to launch a scheme to provide electric scooters to working women and female students across the province.

The initiative is part of a broader push for environment-friendly transport and women's empower-ment. The government is also considering proposals to extend the Peshawar Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system to Charsadda, Nowshera and Khyber districts, and to purchase double-decker electric buses for tourism promotion as well as new electric buses for the BRT fleet.

These decisions were taken during an important meeting of the Planning and Development Depart-ment chaired by Chief Minister Muhammad Sohail Afridi. The meeting reviewed new projects pro-posed under the Annual Development Programme (ADP) 2026-27 for various sectors including social welfare, sports, tourism, relief and transport.

The Chief Minister directed that rescue stations should be established in all tehsils of the province to ensure timely emergency response. He also instructed officials to explore the possibility of setting up an electric bike and scooter manufacturing industry in the province, keeping in view the promotion of modern technology and eco-friendly transport.

The CM emphasised the need to consider starting heli-tourism to further boost the tourism sector. He was informed that work on the province's Socio-Economic Registry is in progress and directed that it should be completed by December so that deserving individuals can be accurately identified for trans-parent delivery of welfare programmes.

In the social welfare sector, proposals were presented for establishing new centres under the "Za-mong Kor" programme, setting up new educational institutions for children with speech and hearing impairments, and upgrading existing ones. The meeting also discussed upgrading existing Dar-ul-Amans (shelter homes), establishing new ones, converting artificial limbs workshops into bionic limbs facilities, providing monthly stipends and scholarships to special children, and creating modern educa-tional complexes for them.

For the promotion of sports, proposals included construction of grounds at tehsil level in Hazara and Malakand divisions, establishment of sports complexes in Battagram and Upper Dir, indoor games fa-cilities for women, and youth centres.

In the tourism sector, discussions focused on discovering new tourist sites, restoration of archaeologi-cal sites and historic railway stations, and promotion of adventure tourism.

The transport sector proposals included starting a Kohat to Kharlachi rail service, launching a suburban train service, purchasing double-decker electric buses to promote tourism, and acquiring new electric buses for the BRT system.