Peshawar:: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Information Minister Shafi Jan on Thursday said the provincial cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Sohail Afridi, has approved the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police Act 2026 to make the police more accountable, effective and professional before the public.
In a statement regarding the decisions of the provincial cabinet meeting, the minister said the proposed law marked a significant step towards introducing important reforms in the police system.
Under the new law, the investigation system would be strengthened, the professional advancement of officers improved, and the policy and operational affairs of the police would be separated.
He said that after approval from the provincial assembly, Regional Investigation Officers would be posted across the province under the new law, an initiative that would help further strengthen the investigation system and enhance the investigative capacity and professional competence of the police.
The minister said that under the proposed law, greater accountability would be brought into the system of postings and transfers of police officers, particularly of Regional Police Officers and District Police Officers, which would be regulated under the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Rules of Business 1985.
To remove long-standing hurdles in the promotion of police officers, the minister said promotion, fast-track promotion and direct recruitment quotas would be rebalanced, which would increase promotion opportunities for officers in the police force and establish a better career progression system.
He said that under the new law, the policy and operational affairs of the police would be separated, for which a Police Policy Board would be established, to be headed by the Chief Minister, while a Police Operations Board would be headed by the Inspector General of Police.
The minister said the proposed law also introduced a performance-based accountability system for the Provincial Police Officer, under which the provincial government would have the authority to return the services of the Provincial Police Officer in case of unsatisfactory performance.
He said the Provincial Police Officer would be bound to prepare an annual policing plan and present it before the Police Policy Board for approval, which would include the police’s priorities, performance and future measures.
He said the new law also included a clear procedure for Dispute Resolution Councils across the province, as the existing legal system lacked a clear procedure in this regard. To ensure transparency, accountability and a uniform system, all existing Dispute Resolution Councils would be dissolved and reconstituted afresh under the new law.
The minister said the cabinet also approved the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Stamp (Amendment) Bill 2026, the revised cost of intake infrastructure and tunnel (up to daylight) under the Peshawar Water Supply Scheme, and the release of the remaining allocated funds for acquisition of land for the construction of sports complexes in Chitral district under the ADP scheme, along with approval of a supplementary grant.
The cabinet meeting was attended by provincial cabinet members, the Chief Secretary, Administrative Secretaries, and the Inspector General of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police.