The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Cabinet on Wednesday approved the K-P Police Act 2026, introducing sweeping reforms aimed at making the provincial police force more accountable, professional and efficient.
The new legislation empowers the provincial government to return the services of federal police officers, including the Inspector General, in cases of unsatisfactory performance. It also establishes a clear separation between police policy and operational matters, creates new oversight boards, and overhauls the investigation and dispute-resolution systems.
Provincial Minister for Information, Science, Technology and Information Technology Shafi Jan briefed the media after the cabinet meeting, describing the proposed law as an important step towards introducing key reforms in the police system. He said the legislation would make the police more accountable to the public, strengthen the investigation system, improve officers’ professional development, and distinctly separate policy from operational affairs.
Under the new Act, the chief minister will chair the Police Policy Board, while the Inspector General of Police will lead the Police Operations Board. Furthermore, the provincial police chief will be required to prepare an annual policing plan outlining priorities, performance targets and future actions, and present it to the Policy Board for approval. The law also provides for the appointment of Regional Investigation Officers across the province after its passage by the provincial assembly.
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Minister Jan said the measure is designed to enhance the police’s investigative capacity and professional competence. He further stated that appointments and transfers of Regional Police Officers and District Police Officers will be regulated under the K-P Rules of Business 1985 to ensure greater accountability.
To address long-standing barriers to career progression, the Act rebalances promotion, fast-track promotion and direct recruitment quotas. The minister said this would expand opportunities for officers and establish a more structured system of career advancement.
In a significant move towards transparency and uniformity, all existing Dispute Resolution Councils will be dissolved and reconstituted under the new law. Jan noted that the current legal framework lacks a clear procedure for these councils; the new Act introduces a standardised mechanism applicable across the province.
The cabinet meeting, chaired by Chief Minister Muhammad Sohail Afridi, was attended by Chief Secretary Shahab Ali Shah, the Inspector General of Police, departmental secretaries and cabinet members.
In addition to the Police Act, the cabinet approved the K-P Stamp (Amendment) Bill 2026. It also gave the green light to the revised cost estimates for the intake structure and tunnel (up to daylight) under the Peshawar Water Supply Scheme, and approved the release of remaining funds and a supplementary grant for land acquisition under an Annual Development Programme scheme for the construction of sports complexes in District Chitral.
The reforms mark one of the most comprehensive overhauls of the provincial police framework in recent years, with the government positioning the new law as a foundation for improved public service delivery and institutional accountability.
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