PESHAWAR — Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi announced on Thursday that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party will stage a massive sit-in outside the National Assembly on June 10 if he is denied a meeting with jailed PTI founder Imran Khan by the June 9 deadline. Speaking at an infrastructure ceremony in Peshawar, Afridi asserted that all legal and constitutional channels have been exhausted, making peaceful protest a legitimate democratic right.
Key Highlights
- CM Afridi set a June 9 deadline to meet Imran Khan, threatening a National Assembly sit-in the following day.
- The CM broke ground on the Rs1.989 billion Kabootar Chowk Underpass under the Peshawar Revitalization Program.
- KP’s upcoming provincial budget will focus heavily on lower-income and marginalized communities.
- The provincial government announced upcoming interest-free loans for youth and minority groups.
- Afridi criticized the federal government for withholding KP’s fiscal shares and delaying strategic projects.
Sohail Afridi, leading the Members of the Provincial Assembly, will depart from KP House Islamabad towards Adiala Jail. Islamabad Police personnel have been deployed outside KP House. pic.twitter.com/XTw12OByaQ
— Ihtisham Ul Haq (@iihtishamm) June 2, 2026
Infrastructure Push Under the Peshawar Revitalization Program
The Chief Minister’s warnings were delivered during the groundbreaking ceremony for the Kabootar Chowk Underpass on the Ring Road. The project—valued at Rs1.989 billion and carrying a strict 60-day completion deadline—is part of the provincial government’s Rs200 billion flagship Revitalization of Peshawar Program aimed at modernizing urban mobility, easing traffic congestion, and improving public services.
Afridi highlighted several other high-budget transport and connectivity projects slated for groundbreaking later this month:
| Project Name | Planned Launch Date | Estimated Cost |
| Kabootar Chowk Underpass | Launched (June 4) | Rs1.989 Billion |
| PDA Toll Plaza Underpass | June 13 | Rs1.681 Billion |
| Hazarkhwani Underpass | June 20 | Rs1.257 Billion |
| Warsak Road Flyover | June 23 | Rs2.283 Billion |
| Palosi Road Flyover | June 27 | Rs1.898 Billion |
Budget Priorities and Social Welfare Policies
Afridi stated that the upcoming provincial budget would reflect Imran Khan’s social welfare goals, prioritizing the protection of low-income and marginalized segments of society. To foster self-employment and inclusive economic growth, the CM announced the introduction of a comprehensive youth policy featuring interest-free financing facilities. A separate, parallel interest-free financing mechanism is also being established to enhance the economic participation of minority communities.
Federal Friction, Security Expenses, and Delayed Projects
Turning to economic and administrative challenges, Chief Minister Afridi voiced strong grievances against the federal government, stating that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is consistently denied its due share of national financial resources. He emphasized that the financial integration of the merged tribal districts remains incomplete despite their formal administrative merger, leaving residents in a state of policy uncertainty.
Furthermore, the CM noted that the newly completed Peshawar Bus Terminal remains operationally restricted due to unresolved connectivity issues. He also blamed the federal government for delaying a vital dam project in Swat by failing to issue the required No Objection Certificates (NOCs) to foreign technical experts. Afridi concluded by reminding the center of the disproportionate sacrifices made by KP, noting the province has lost over 80,000 lives in the ongoing fight against terrorism.
