Street vendors will be protected by law, says CM Sohail Afridi

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Muhammad Sohail Afridi has said that the province was set to introduce historic legislation on the street economy for the first time, marking what he described as a major step toward formalising and protecting the livelihoods of thousands of street vendors.
He confirmed that the draft of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Ehsaas Rehribaan (Street Vendors) Livelihood Protection Bill 2025 has been completed. The draft is being forwarded to the provincial cabinet for approval and will subsequently be placed before the provincial Assembly for consideration before it formally becomes a Law.
The Chief Minister said that KP would become the first province in the country to make the rights of street vendors a permanent and enforceable part of the legal framework. According to details, more than 140,000 street vendors across the province will be incorporated into a formal system of state protection under the new law. The Chief Minister stated that no official, authority or private individual would be permitted to unlawfully seize vending spaces, displace vendors, or exert pressure on their livelihoods. By giving structure to the street economy, currently estimated at more than Rs380 billion, the Chief Minister said the provincial government had taken a historic step toward regulating and safeguarding a sector that has traditionally remained informal and vulnerable.
Chief Minister Sohail Afridi noted that the proposed legislation addresses longstanding issues faced by street vendors, including harassment, bribery, extortion, and sudden removal from vending locations. Under the bill, acts of intimidation, coercion, rent seeking, or illegal payments demanded from vendors, whether by government officials, police personnel, or private individuals, will be treated as serious criminal offenses. He said that one of the core features of the legislation is its emphasis on due process, ensuring that no anti-encroachment action of any kind would be permissible against registered vendors without prior notice, evidence based justification, and adherence to legal procedure.
He added that, in addition to legal safeguards, the bill extends access to microfinance, credit, insurance, and emergency support. These measures will enable street vendors, many of whom operate on narrow margins and lack financial security, to become part of the formal economic system. The Chief Minister said that integrating street vendors into social protection and financial inclusion mechanisms was essential for both economic stability and poverty alleviation.
Referring to the broader vision of the initiative, the Chief Minister said that, in line with Imran Khan’s vision of a just and welfare oriented State, it is the responsibility of the government to ensure equitable protection for all citizens, particularly those whose livelihoods depend on daily income. He termed the initiative as more than just legislation. “It is a declaration that in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, every individual, no matter how small their trade, is protected by the Rule of Law. By securing their earnings, we are fulfilling the spirit of ‘Ehsaas’ and restoring the self-respect and dignity that was denied to these families for decades. Their hard work will no longer be met with a stick, but with legal protection and dignity.” he added. Under the bill, the Street Vending Certificate will serve as a form of legal guarantee, protecting the daily earnings of vendors and ensuring that they are no longer subject to arbitrary actions or exploitation.
The Chief Minister stated that the inclusion of vendor representation in all decisions of the Tehsil Vending Committees was another key feature of the proposed law. These committees, he noted, will oversee vending zones, regulate registration, and handle dispute resolution. By ensuring vendor representation the provincial government aims to make policy making more inclusive and to eliminate discretionary or unilateral decision making in matters concerning public spaces and livelihoods.
The Chief Minister said that street vendors represent one of the most hard working and significant segments of urban life, contributing to local commerce, food security, and accessibility of low cost services. Their work, dignity, and contribution, he said, deserve formal recognition and respect. He added that the bill reflects the provincial government’s commitment to restoring the pride, self-worth, and economic security of street vendors who have long operated under precarious conditions.
The Chief Minister clarified that the objective of the legislation goes beyond securing immediate incomes. It also aims to connect street vendors with broader economic opportunities, encouraging them to become empowered, responsible, and legally protected participants in the provincial economy.
He said the government views the legislation as an important milestone for the working class and believes it will lay the foundation for a more organized, stable, and modern street economy across the province.