PESHAWAR(National times)- The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government is gearing up to pass the province’s first-ever Street Economy Law, aimed at protecting the livelihoods of more than 140,000 street vendors. KP CM Sohail Afridi said the draft of the Ehsaas Rehri Ban Rozgar Tahaffuz Bill 2025 has been completed and will soon be sent to the cabinet for approval. Sohail Afridi said KP is becoming the first province in Pakistan to formally include the rights of street vendors in the law, ensuring they receive long-term state protection. He added that the Rs380 billion street economy will now operate under a complete legal framework, marking a major milestone. Under the new law, harassment and bribery will be treated as serious offences. The Chief Minister said that no anti-encroachment operation will be allowed against registered vendors without prior notice. Vendors will also gain access to microfinance, credit, insurance, and emergency support, helping them keep their businesses afloat. Afridi said the move follows Imran Khan’s vision of a welfare state where every citizen receives equal protection under the law. The new system will establish safe vending zones, clear rights, and full legal safeguards. A Street Vending Certificate will give vendors official protection, ensuring their daily earnings remain secure under the state’s umbrella. He added that vendors will have mandatory representation in the new tehsil vending committees, giving them a voice in local decision-making. “We honour the hard work and dignity of street vendors and will restore their long-lost self-respect,” the CM said. The bill will be presented in the assembly after cabinet approval.