The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government on Tuesday decided to establish a special sub-committee to monitor development work and “review any military operations” in certain districts.

The decision was taken at a high-level meeting at the Corps Headquarters in Peshawar to review the overall security situation in the province.

According to a handout, the meeting was attended by Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, KP Chief Minister Sohail Afridi, the national security adviser, and Peshawar corps commander, along with senior civil and military officials.

The press release said that at the outset of the meeting, the attendees paid tribute to the civilians and security personnel martyred in terrorist attacks.

The high-level meeting decided that Pakistan Super League (PSL) matches scheduled for this year would be held in Peshawar.

According to the statement, the meeting decided to implement a provincial governance model in Malakand Division under the supervision of the police and other provincial institutions.

It added that the model would then be implemented in “phases in the affected districts, particularly Khyber, Orakzai and Kurram”.

The press release said that to ensure the effective “monitoring of development projects and review of any security operations” in these districts, a special sub-committee would be formed under the leadership of CM Afridi. It was decided that the committee will hold monthly meetings.

The statement added that the special sub-committee would also include elected public representatives, the Peshawar corps commander, the KP chief secretary, the inspector general, provincial officials, and representatives from federal institutions.

The special sub-committee would also be responsible for “creating opportunities for alternative employment, ensuring a steady income for the locals” and arrangements to address the issues of temporarily displaced persons, the statement said.

During the meeting, it was decided that “effective communication between the Centre and the KP govt, complete coordination, and a united stance will be ensured on key policy matters to address issues such as terrorism”.

It was also decided to promote sustainable employment opportunities to prevent the youth from developing extremist ideas. The meeting also decided that strict action against illegal SIM cards, explosive material, and extortion will be taken, the meeting decided.

“Additionally, attention will be paid to the phased profiling of non-custom paid vehicles,” the statement said.

Last week, in an apex committee meeting, “consultation, cooperation and coordination” with the federal government and all political parties were termed “essential” for the success of a comprehensive counter-terrorism policy.

The panel discussed the “general rise in terrorism incidents in KP and an action plan to eradicate the menace of Fitna al Khawarij and establish complete peace and stability”.

According to the Annual Security Report 2025 from the Centre for Research and Security Studies (CRSS), KP recorded a significant surge in violence last year as “fatalities rose from 1,620 in 2024 to 2,331 in 2025”.

Security, economic decisions taken

In a video statement, CM’s aide for public relations Shafi Jan said a briefing on the security situation was provided during the meeting.

He added that certain decisions related to the province’s law and order and the economy were made.

Detailing the security-related decisions, KP Law Minister Aftab Alam said: “It was unanimously decided during the meeting that in Malakand Division, our Pak Army would hand over its responsibilities to law enforcement agencies, CTD (Counter-Terrorism Department) and the police.”

He termed it a “major decision and good news for the entire KP’s people, especially those in Malakand Division”.

Alam further said it was an “achievement” for the KP government, as well as the civilian and military leadership, that “peace was being restored in the province and efforts are being made for it”.

“This is also the restoration of trust in our police,” he highlighted.

Another decision made was that a meeting of “all political stakeholders would be summoned, where the civilian and military higher-ups and leadership would take them into confidence, and their recommendations would be implemented”, he said.

The minister also stated that the agreements reached upon in the last provincial apex committee would be “ensured before the federal Apex Committee’s meeting and would be endorsed” in the same.

Jan then emphasised that it was decided to hand over the local “services” to the civil administration as the law and order improved in certain districts.

Elaborating on the economic decisions, Adviser to KP CM on Finance Muzzammil Aslam said the meeting was conducted in an “extremely pleasant environment”.

He stated that the meeting was informed in detail about the financial issues faced by the KP government, as had been communicated by CM Afridi to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in a January letter and a meeting last week.

Aslam lamented that had the National Finance Commission (NFC) Award been announced, it would have solved many issues of KP.

“We also told them that due to the reduced money coming from the Centre, the KP government was contributing from its funds for the merged districts, but it was insufficient,” the KP official said, adding that suggestions were made to improve the future situation.

According to Aslam, it was decided during the meeting that those recommendations will be presented before the federal government and aim to get KP “maximum relief”.

The adviser further said that “an assurance was given” on providing alternative arrangements to people whose livelihoods had been impacted as a result of any “operations” and the trade disruption with Afghanistan.

They also discussed “how the Centre and the province would together compensate people there financially