KP needs peace, not just another security package

November 5, 2026

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s announcement of a Rs160 billion development and security package for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is welcome, but the real challenge lies in turning this financial commitment into lasting peace. The people of the province have heard many promises and witnessed numerous security operations. What they desperately need now is an end to violence and the restoration of normal life.

For years, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has suffered from terrorism, insecurity and economic uncertainty. Families have lost loved ones, businesses have struggled, schools have faced disruption and entire communities have lived under the shadow of fear. No development plan can succeed unless people feel safe in their homes, workplaces and neighbourhoods.

Chairing a federal cabinet meeting in Islamabad on Wednesday, the prime minister stressed the need for coordinated efforts by the federal government, the provincial administration and the armed forces to eliminate terrorism. He rightly described peace and stability in KP as a priority. However, coordination must go beyond official meetings and statements. It requires a clear strategy, shared responsibility and political agreement on how to address the security crisis.

The government must also recognise that military action alone cannot guarantee lasting peace. Effective intelligence, stronger policing, better border management and action against terrorist networks must be supported by education, employment, healthcare and economic opportunities. The provincial population should be treated as a partner in the fight against terrorism, not merely as a victim of it.

The Rs160 billion package should therefore have clear priorities, transparent spending and measurable targets. Its success must be judged by declining attacks, safer communities, functioning schools and businesses returning to normal operations. The government must also ensure that development funds reach the districts and communities that need them most. However, domestic economic relief and regional diplomacy cannot overshadow the urgent need to restore peace in KP. The province does not need another cycle of violence, displacement and promises. It needs a security policy that delivers results and a development strategy that gives young people hope. The ultimate measure of the Rs160 billion package will not be how much money is allocated, but whether the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa can finally live without fear.