Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has taken a groundbreaking step by drafting its first law designed specifically to safeguard the rights of street vendors. Chief Minister Sohail Afridi announced that the Ehsaas Cart Vendors Employment Protection Bill 2025 has been completed and will soon be forwarded to the provincial cabinet for approval.
The chief minister said that KP has become the first province to formally acknowledge and protect cart vendors, ensuring they are treated as part of the formal economy. Under the draft law, authorities will be barred from launching anti-encroachment operations without issuing prior notices.
The proposed legislation introduces multiple safety nets, including access to microfinance, insurance, and emergency assistance. Dedicated vending zones will also be created across cities so that vendors can operate with legal backing and protection.
Afridi emphasized that a new street vending certificate will officially secure the livelihoods of thousands of families by giving their daily income legal standing. He added that vendors will now also have representation in Tehsil Vending Committees, allowing them to participate directly in local-level decision-making.
The chief minister said the goal is to uplift street vendors through structured support and integrate them into the formal economic system for the first time in KP’s history.
