The PTI government’s rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) since 2013 brought reforms in governance, health, education, police, and social welfare. While not all promises were fulfilled, PTI is credited with introducing police reforms, health insurance programs, welfare schemes like Ehsaas, and local government empowerment that distinguished KP from other provinces.
Governance & Institutional Reforms
• Police reforms: PTI depoliticized the KP police, introducing merit-based recruitment and independent accountability. This was widely praised as a model for other provinces.
• Local government system: KP was the first province to implement a robust local government structure, devolving power to village and neighborhood councils LGKP.
• Anti-corruption measures: PTI emphasized transparency, banning use of public funds for personal publicity and introducing e-governance initiatives.
Health & Welfare
• Sehat Card Plus: PTI launched a universal health insurance program in KP, providing free treatment for millions of families in public and private hospitals.
• Ehsaas Program: Rolled out in KP as part of PTI’s national welfare initiative, offering cash transfers, scholarships, and food support. The World Bank described Ehsaas as a “role model for other countries”
• Hospital upgrades: Investments were made in tertiary hospitals in Peshawar and district-level facilities, though critics note shortages of staff and funding persisted southasiatim....
Education
• School infrastructure: Thousands of schools were rehabilitated, with new classrooms and facilities added.
• Teacher recruitment: PTI introduced merit-based hiring to reduce political interference.
• Challenges: Despite reforms, universities in KP faced financial crises, delayed salaries, and resource shortages
Legislative & Rights Protection
• Repeal of “Actions in Aid of Civil Power” law: In 2025, the KP cabinet abolished this controversial law, which allowed military-style detention without trial, calling it contrary to fundamental rights Pakistan.
• Peace Jirga: PTI facilitated political dialogue in KP to reduce violence and promote reconciliation The Nation.
Development & Infrastructure
• Energy projects: Small hydropower initiatives were launched to address KP’s electricity shortages.
• Tourism promotion: PTI invested in tourism infrastructure in Swat, Malakand, and northern districts.
• Transport: Road networks and bus rapid transit (BRT) in Peshawar were developed, though the BRT faced delays and criticism.
Balanced View
• Achievements: Police reforms, Sehat Card, Ehsaas, and local government empowerment are seen as PTI’s biggest contributions.
• Limitations: Financial mismanagement in universities, delays in infrastructure projects, and uneven service delivery tempered the impact.
PTI’s governance in KP is remembered for structural reforms and welfare programs that set the province apart, even if execution challenges remained.
• Police Reforms
The claim of “depoliticized” KP police is largely rhetorical.
KP still faced record-breaking attacks, with police stations and personnel targeted repeatedly. A “model police force” that collapses under pressure cannot be considered reformed.
Even PTI’s own MPAs publicly complained about lack of resources, poor morale, and incapacity.
There was no independent oversight authority with real authority, and internal accountability remained weak.
In reality, KP police improved in optics, not in outcomes.
• Local Government System
The idea of a robust LG system is misleading.
PTI froze funds for local bodies soon after elections.
Councils went bankrupt and could not deliver even basic municipal services.
The system was dissolved prematurely multiple times.
A local government that cannot function cannot be called a success.
• Anti-corruption Measures
No major corruption scandal was ever seriously prosecuted despite massive irregularities in BRT, Billion Tree Tsunami, Sehat Card and public procurement.
Digitalization did not eliminate corruption. It only changed the medium.
• Sehat Card Plus
The universal health coverage program turned into a financial disaster.
Hospitals stopped accepting the card because of billions in unpaid dues.
Premium costs ballooned until the province could no longer afford the program.
Fraud cases surfaced involving both hospitals and insurance providers.
Calling Sehat Card a success without acknowledging the financial collapse is misleading.
• Ehsaas Program
Ehsaas was a federal program, not a KP-specific reform.
KP cannot take credit for something funded, administered, and structured federally.
• Hospital Upgrades
Most upgrades were superficial while district hospitals lacked specialists.
Equipment remained non-functional.
Postgraduate training deteriorated.
Doctors repeatedly protested over delayed salaries.
There was no major improvement in healthcare quality indicators.
• School Infrastructure
The “thousands of schools upgraded” claim lacks context.
Most improvements were minor repairs, paint jobs or wall construction.
Teacher absenteeism remained widespread.
Learning outcomes showed no substantial improvement in ASER or KP monitoring data.
• Merit-Based Teacher Recruitment
Merit recruitment is meaningless when teachers face delayed salaries and schools lack basic facilities.
• University Crisis
PTI oversaw the worst financial collapse in KP’s higher education.
Universities became so broke that staff went months without salaries.
This alone contradicts the claim of education reform.
• Repeal of AACP
Repealing a controversial law after ten years of silence does not qualify as a reform.
PTI retained this law throughout its tenure and reversed it only when it became politically convenient.
• Peace Jirga
Dialogue committees did nothing to stop the return of militants.
Target killings and extortion resurged.
Security indicators deteriorated significantly.
This undermines any claim of successful reconciliation efforts.
• Energy Projects
Small hydro projects delivered minimal real output.
Most remained stuck in feasibility stages or incomplete.
• Tourism Promotion
Tourism growth was primarily due to improved security from pre-PTI military operations.
Infrastructure, sanitation, and regulation remained poor in tourist districts.
• Peshawar BRT
The BRT became one of Pakistan’s most criticized mega projects.
Design revisions multiplied the cost.
Frequent breakdowns and technical faults exposed weak planning.
NAB inquiries and major delays heavily damaged its credibility.