Speaking at the launch ceremony in Peshawar, the chief minister announced that the free Wi-Fi service will also be expanded to public universities and colleges across the province.
The first phase of the project will cover important government locations in Peshawar, while the next phase will extend the facility to all divisional headquarters, including Abbottabad, Mardan, Swat, Kohat, Bannu, and Dera Ismail Khan.
Chief Minister Sohail Afridi said Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has progressed significantly toward digital governance, with around 70 to 80 percent of government systems moving toward digitalization. He said the provincial government is working to make public services paperless in phases.
He added that digital facilities will be made available to citizens across the province in line with the vision of former prime minister Imran Khan.
The chief minister said internet access is creating new employment and business opportunities for young people, adding that providing economic opportunities to youth is a responsibility of the state. He also highlighted the growing trend of e-commerce in Pakistan as a positive development.
Criticizing internet slowdowns and shutdowns, Sohail Afridi said restrictions on internet access negatively affect young people and economic activities. He said such measures are a matter of concern, particularly for those who rely on digital platforms for education, employment, and business.
He further pointed out that several merged districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa still lack basic facilities, saying many areas do not even have proper mobile phone services, while internet access remains a major challenge.
The provincial government said the Open Wi-Fi initiative is aimed at improving digital connectivity and providing easier access to online services for citizens across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
