PESHAWAR: A thief in a startling move has made off with a BRT station, several screens whose value runs into millions of rupees at the Faisal Colony stop in Peshawar.
BRT spokesperson told local news channel Dunya News, the thief got into the station when the shutter was open, hence, he had an easy way in. The thief took the opportunity to steal without being seen when the security guards who were patrolling the platform left a blind spot.
The official said in addition that a formal complaint had been lodged at the police station. The police, nevertheless, cautioned that people who destroy public property are going to be at the top of the list of those who will be harshly dealt with by the law.
Peshawar BRT owes Rs 4.44 billion to the Cantonment Board, penalties imposed
It has been revealed that the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government’s flagship project, Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), owes Rs 4.44 billion to the Contonment Board Peshawar (CBP). CBP recently asked the government to pay dues as soon as possible.
According to a letter issued by the Cantonment Board Peshawar, on November 14, stated that BRT has an outstanding balance of Rs 3.55 billion. It is reported that the CBP has also imposed 25 per cent delinquent compensation charges on the outstanding amount, after which the amount of outstanding balance on BRT has increased to more than Rs 4.44 billion.
The Cantonment Board has made it clear that in case of non-payment on time, a fine of 5 per cent will also be collected annually.
According to the documents, the issue of non-payment of dues related to the BRT project in Peshawar has once again become serious because the Cantonment Board Peshawar has clarified in a letter sent to the PDA and the provincial government that despite several reminders, an amount of more than Rs 3.55 billion has not been paid yet, due to which the Cantonment Board is facing a severe financial crisis and obstacles in development works.
According to the document, the agreement signed between the PDA and the Cantonment Board on November 22, 2017, under BRT Reach II included payment of land compensation, commercialisation charges and distress charges; however, despite the passage of the stipulated period, only Rs 409 million was paid to the Cantonment Board, while the entire remaining amount is still due.
The land compensation includes 311 marlas of land in Captain Roohullah Shaheed Chowk and about 498 marlas of land in Jinnah Park, in addition to commercialisation charges for the Dabagri Garden staging station and distress charges from 2019 to 2020.
The documents reveal that on March 26, 2025, a high-level meeting was held in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Finance Department, where the Advisor on Finance, Secretary P&D, Secretary Transport, DG PDA, CEO Cantonment Board Peshawar and CEO Trans Peshawar were also present.
The meeting agreed that the commercialisation fee and distress charges of the Dabagri staging station are payable, but despite this, no progress could be made. The documents also stated that during the construction of the BRT, several facilities in the cantonment area were severely damaged, the drainage system was affected, underground drainage lines and rainwater passages failed, due to which repeated flooding situations occurred in urban areas during the rains.
Neither the PDA nor the BRT administration cooperated in repairing the damage, due to which the Cantonment Board had to carry out emergency repairs with its limited financial resources. Such a situation not only affected the development projects but also significantly reduced the income of the Cantonment Board.
The document also mentioned concern that the value of the claims against the BRT was determined according to the DC rate 2018-19, and if the current DC rate is reviewed, the liabilities The amount may double, according to the documents, due to the decline in revenue, the board proposed delayed compensation charges, which the board approved in its meeting dated May 30, 2025.
According to the decision, 25 per cent additional charges will be imposed on the PDA and the provincial government, which increases the total amount to Rs 4,444,440,000, while an additional penalty of 5 per cent will also be collected every year in case of non-payment.
The Cantonment Board, in its letter, has requested the provincial Chief Secretary, Secretary Finance, Secretary Transport and the concerned authorities to resolve this issue on a priority basis, so that the long-pending dues can be paid and the daily financial needs and development activities of the cantonment are not affected.
The board has made it clear that if this issue is not resolved in time, not only will the financial crisis deepen, but also several important civil services may be affected.
