PESHAWAR – The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has accelerated efforts to fortify the security infrastructure of the Civil Secretariat and its adjacent buildings. However, the Planning and Development (P&D) Department recently raised objections regarding specific technical aspects and expenditures, seeking detailed clarification.
Specifically, the department has requested a comprehensive plan to integrate the Secretariat’s security control room with the Safe City Peshawar Project. Consequently, this move aims to establish a unified and robust surveillance network to protect the provincial capital’s administrative hub.
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Streamlining Procurement and Consultancy
First, the P&D Department issued a formal letter to the Additional Chief Secretary Home and the Executive Engineer of Mega Project Division-II (C&W). Furthermore, the communication highlighted that current explanations regarding security equipment and the establishment of the control room remain insufficient. Notably, the department issued the following directives based on provincial regulations to ensure transparency and fiscal responsibility:
- Government-to-Government Procurement: Specifically, following a decision from the 48th Cabinet meeting, all security equipment must be purchased on a G2G (Government-to-Government) basis rather than from the open market.
- Legal Compliance: Also, this process will utilize Rule 3(2)(c) of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (KPPRA) Rules 2014 to guarantee both quality and transparency.
- Consultancy Charge Restrictions: Moreover, the government has prohibited any consultancy charges, including those for NESPAK, for the design, checking, or monitoring of security equipment purchases.
- Targeted Costs: Indeed, consultancy fees will only apply to the actual construction portion of the project rather than being charged against the total cost of the PC-I.
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Path to Final Approval
In addition, the P&D Department directed relevant authorities to rectify all identified flaws and submit the required clarifications immediately. Once these technical gaps are closed, the scheme will be presented to the Provincial Development Working Party (PDWP) for final approval and formal sanctioning. Ultimately, the project also requires essential financial clearance from the Finance Department before implementation can begin.
Modernizing Administrative Security
Finally, this initiative marks a vital step toward modernizing the security of Peshawar’s administrative headquarters. Specifically, the plan includes the installation of high-definition CCTV cameras, modern control rooms, and various other sophisticated protective gear. In conclusion, the Civil Secretariat Peshawar security plan remains a high-priority project designed to align provincial safety measures with modern technological standards.
