Peshawar – Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa 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.
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, CM 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 said 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.
Sohail Afridi said 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.
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.
Earlier, officials briefed the Chief Minister on progress achieved under the project. They informed that the PC-I cost of the initiative stands at Rs320 million, of which Rs90 million have already been utilized for deployment at selected public locations.
The briefing 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.
