KOHAT, November 4, 2026 : Following the imposition of Governor’s Rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), the declaration of emergency in 12 designated districts and subsequent changes in the provincial administrative setup, the government under Governor Faisal Karim Kundi has stepped up efforts to eliminate encroachments across the province, restore the writ of the administration, reclaim state-owned land and improve civic facilities. The campaign has also drawn reactions from citizens and business communities, particularly traders and residents affected by the ongoing operations.
Governor Faisal Karim Kundi has reportedly ruled out political recommendations, personal favours or sifarish in the anti-encroachment campaign, making it clear that no one would be granted preferential treatment, regardless of status or influence. He has also stated that even if an encroachment were found on his own property or residence, it should be demolished without hesitation.
The provincial government plans to extend the campaign across Peshawar and all divisional, district and tehsil headquarters to clear urban areas of illegal structures and restore public spaces. Peshawar, being the provincial capital, has been made the initial focus, with intensified operations underway ahead of the campaign’s extension to other cities.
Commissioner Peshawar Division Captain (Retd) Khalid Mahmood said enforcement teams had been directed to work in double shifts to complete the anti-encroachment operation along Ring Road by the end of the current week. He said approximately 410 kanals of government land, estimated to be worth Rs29.5 billion, had so far been reclaimed from illegal occupants, while around 570 shops and other structures had been demolished.
These figures were shared at a review meeting chaired by Commissioner Khalid Mahmood and attended by Deputy Commissioner Peshawar Afaq Wazir, Traffic Magistrate Basharat Ahmed, the Director of the Peshawar Development Authority (PDA) and all Assistant Commissioners of the district. The meeting reviewed the progress of the ongoing operation and considered further measures to accelerate the campaign and ensure its timely completion. The Deputy Commissioner briefed participants on the land recovered, structures demolished and the remaining course of action.
According to the briefing, approximately 310 kanals of government land have been recovered from various sections along Ring Road, while another 100 kanals have been retrieved from the inner city. The estimated value of the total recovered land stands at Rs29.5 billion. The operation has also resulted in the demolition of around 500 shops and other building along Ring Road and 75 shops in the inner city.
Commissioner Khalid Mahmood directed the authorities to accelerate the operation and complete the Ring Road drive within the stipulated timeframe. He specifically identified Ring Road, Jamil Chowk, Hazarkhwani, Hayatabad Toll Plaza, Pir Zakori and Garhi Qamar Din for the removal of remaining encroachments and retrieval of government property.
To ensure uninterrupted operations, the weekly holidays of all Assistant Commissioners in Peshawar have been cancelled. They have also been directed to expedite the identification and demarcation of encroachments.
The Commissioner ordered the removal of illegally occupied portions of Police Stations Agha Mir Jani Shah, Pashtakhara and Rehman Baba along City Circular Road. Encroachments from a government girls’ school situated at Garhi Qamar Din along Ring Road will also be removed.
The meeting further decided to launch a strict operation against illegal occupation of land belonging to graveyards and their respective trusts. The Commissioner made it clear that encroachment on government or trust-owned land would not be tolerated. It was also decided that rent would be recovered, in accordance with the law, from individuals and businesses using additional space on government land.
In a significant move to ease traffic congestion, all rickshaw and other vehicle repair workshops operating in congested parts of Peshawar will be relocated to a designated site along Ring Road. Deputy Commissioner Afaq Wazir has been directed to identify and allocate a suitable location where mechanical, denting and painting, and auto-electrician workshops can operate with all essential facilities available at one place.
The Commissioner observed that workshops operating along City Circular Road and other busy thoroughfares were creating serious traffic disruptions and obstructing the smooth movement of vehicles. Their relocation, he said, would help reduce congestion, facilitate motorists and improve the overall appearance of the city.
The meeting also decided to impose restrictions on the movement of small and heavy goods-carrying vehicles during daytime hours. Shopkeepers will be prohibited from constructing platforms or extending their shops onto public spaces, as well as placing goods or other obstacles on roads, footpaths and public areas.
The Commissioner directed all relevant departments to take urgent measures to improve traffic management and ensure the smooth flow of vehicles throughout the city. He said the campaign was intended to provide citizens with wider roads, better traffic facilities and a cleaner and safer urban environment.
He also announced cash rewards and commendation certificates for officers and personnel demonstrating outstanding performance during the operation.
Emphasizing public cooperation and sustained enforcement, Commissioner Khalid Mahmood directed all relevant departments to utilize available resources, strengthen coordination and address the genuine concerns of citizens. He also called for an effective monitoring mechanism to prevent the reoccupation of government land recovered during the campaign.
The Commissioner said the anti-encroachment operation would continue on a sustained basis, directing all relevant departments to fulfil their responsibilities to make Peshawar a clean and encroachment-free.
