Chief Minister KP formally launched Community Driven Digital Access (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Open Wi-Fi) initiative
Chitral Times Report
PESHAWAR: Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Muhammad Sohail Afridi has formally launched the Community Driven Digital Access (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Open Wi-Fi) Initiative, describing it as a major milestone in the Province’s digital transformation agenda and a significant step towards strengthening digital governance and expanding citizens’ access to modern public services. Addressing the inaugural ceremony at the Chief Minister’s House in Peshawar, the Chief Minister announced that, under the first phase of the initiative, free Wi-Fi services are being introduced at key public facilities in Peshawar, including major government hospitals and public transport hubs. He further announced that subsequent phases will extend the initiative to all divisional headquarters of the Province, including Abbottabad, Dera Ismail Khan, Mardan, Swat, Kohat and Bannu.
The Chief Minister also announced that free Wi-Fi facilities will be introduced across all public universities and colleges in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, underscoring the Provincial Government’s commitment to equipping young people with the digital infrastructure necessary to pursue education, research, entrepreneurship and employment opportunities. He noted that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has already achieved substantial progress towards digital governance, with nearly 70 to 80 percent of government processes moving towards digitization, while efforts are underway to progressively transition public service delivery to a paperless system.
Referring to the vision of the Founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, Imran Khan, the Chief Minister said the provincial government remains committed to ensuring that modern digital services reach every citizen and contribute to greater accessibility, transparency and efficiency in governance. Highlighting the growing importance of the digital economy, Muhammad Sohail Afridi observed that internet connectivity has become an essential enabler of employment, e-commerce, freelancing and entrepreneurship for young people. He stressed that creating opportunities for youth to participate in the digital economy is a fundamental responsibility of the state and welcomed the increasing engagement of Pakistani youth in digital and online businesses. The Provincial Government, he said, is committed to providing an enabling environment that supports innovation, skills development and economic participation.
The Chief Minister also expressed concern over persistent issues relating to internet availability and speed across the country. He stated that slowing down or suspending internet services to restrict access to social media is a regrettable practice. He maintained that, unfortunately, internet services are frequently disrupted or deliberately slowed in an effort to counter the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), with the greatest impact falling on young people, students, freelancers, entrepreneurs and digital businesses that rely on uninterrupted connectivity. Muhammad Sohail Afridi further stated that while the present Federal Government has failed to introduce effective measures to expand economic opportunities for the country’s youth, it should, at a minimum, refrain from depriving them of the ability to earn livelihoods through digital platforms.
He emphasized that reliable, affordable and unrestricted internet access is indispensable for the growth of Pakistan’s digital economy and the future of its young workforce. Drawing attention to the merged districts, the Chief Minister noted that many areas continue to face severe connectivity challenges, with many localities lacking even basic mobile phone coverage. He observed that cross-border trade with Afghanistan has historically been a major source of livelihood for local communities, and that prolonged border closures have significantly affected economic activity. Sustainable peace, he emphasized, requires expanding economic opportunities and improving livelihoods alongside security interventions.
The Chief Minister further observed that citizens in the country, continue to face unemployment, inflation and broader economic challenges, making it imperative that public resources are utilized efficiently and transparently. He reaffirmed that the Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa derives its mandate from the democratic will of the people and therefore remains fully committed to public service, accountable governance and citizen-centric development. Muhammad Sohail Afridi reiterated that fiscal year 2026-27 will be dedicated to advancing peace, economic development, prosperity and digital transformation across the Province. He affirmed that the government will continue implementing its reform agenda to deliver efficient, accessible and technology-enabled public services.
The Chief Minister commended the Department of Science, Technology and Information Technology and all partner institutions for their efforts in delivering the Open Wi-Fi Initiative, expressing confidence that the project will mark the beginning of a new era of digital inclusion in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and make a significant contribution towards building an empowered, innovative and knowledge-driven society.
Earlier, officials briefed the Chief Minister on progress achieved under the project. They informed that the PC-I cost of the initiative stands at PKR 320 million, of which PKR 90 million has already been utilized for deployment at selected public locations. The briefing further stated that the implementation plan initially covers 19 public sites across the districts of Peshawar, Abbottabad and Dera Ismail Khan, supported by 119 access points. The selected locations include public hospitals, parks and transport terminals. Under the first phase, Open Wi-Fi services have already become operational at Lady Reading Hospital and Bagh-e-Naran in Peshawar. Additional sites, including Police Services Hospital, Hayatabad Medical Complex, Peshawar Institute of Cardiology, Kohat Bus Terminal, Lahore Bus Terminal, Ghani Bagh and Gulistan Johar Hazara Khwani Park, are scheduled to become operational by the end of the current month. During the second phase, Open Wi-Fi services will be activated by 30 August 2026 at DHQ Hospital, Mufti Mehmood Hospital, Town Hall Park, Milad Park and Food Street, Darya Road in Dera Ismail Khan.
The third phase will extend the initiative to Abbottabad, where Ayub Medical Complex, the Daewoo Bus Terminal and the Government Park are scheduled to become operational by 31 December 2026.
