Peshawar Division

Peshawar | ReNews Pakistan
A major inter-provincial highway linking Khyber Pakhtunkhwa with Punjab remained closed on Wednesday after a suicide attack targeted a security checkpost near the Dera Darya Khan bridge in Bhakkar. The closure disrupted travel and commercial movement across the provincial border.
The highway, a critical route for passengers, agricultural produce, and commercial goods, is a key artery for inter-provincial trade and daily mobility. Its closure has created logistical challenges, with vehicles stranded and supply chains temporarily interrupted.
Transport sources reported delays in freight movement and increased travel times due to diversions, impacting operational efficiency and costs. Analysts note that such highways are essential for sustaining trade flows, economic coordination, and timely delivery of goods between provinces.
Authorities are reviewing the security situation and are expected to implement measures to reopen the highway as soon as possible, ensuring safe and uninterrupted inter-provincial connectivity and resumption of trade and commuter movement.

Peshawar | ReNews Pakistan
The Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has reaffirmed its commitment to implementing comprehensive and sustainable measures to improve environmental conditions and increase forest cover across the province. The initiative is part of broader efforts to protect land resources, enhance ecological resilience, and support balanced urban expansion.
According to official statements, the provincial administration is focusing on expanding afforestation activities, protecting existing forest areas, and introducing structured green zones within urban and peri-urban regions. These measures are intended to stabilise land surfaces, reduce soil degradation, and improve environmental quality in rapidly developing districts.
Officials emphasised that increasing forest cover plays a critical role in protecting land from erosion, regulating surface temperatures, and supporting sustainable land use planning. The integration of green belts and plantation zones within city limits is also expected to improve environmental conditions in residential and commercial areas, while strengthening long-term land value and infrastructure sustainability.
The provincial government further noted that environmental protection is being aligned with development planning to ensure that land utilisation, infrastructure expansion, and urban growth remain environmentally responsible. These efforts are aimed at maintaining ecological balance while supporting organised and sustainable expansion of urban settlements across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Peshawar : ReNews Pakistan
The Federal Constitutional Court has upheld the constitutionality of the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Sales Tax on Services Act, 2022, specifically regarding the levy of sales tax on construction services. Appeals challenging the law were dismissed, providing legal clarity for contractors, developers, and construction operators in the province.
The ruling ensures that all construction and development services remain subject to statutory taxation, offering certainty for builders, urban developers, and operators involved in land and property projects.
The decision strengthens regulatory oversight of construction activities, ensuring proper documentation, compliance, and adherence to provincial service tax regulations. It is expected to guide ongoing and future development initiatives, including housing schemes, commercial projects, and infrastructure expansions.