By Our Correspondent
PESHAWAR -The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly has passed the Ehsaas Rehri Baan Livelihood Protection Bill 2026, introducing a comprehensive legal framework to protect and regulate street vendors across the province.
Provincial Law Minister Aftab Alam presented the bill, which provides legal protection to more than 140,000 street vendors and introduces a system for their registration, licensing, designated vending zones, legal rights and appeals.
Under the bill, individuals aged 14 years or above will be eligible to register as street vendors. Registration and a vending certificate will be mandatory for all street vendors.
Registered vendors will receive QR code-based digital vending certificates, which will remain valid for two years and can be renewed. Certificates may be suspended or cancelled if vendors provide false information or violate prescribed conditions, with an appeal mechanism available against such decisions.
The legislation also protects registered vendors from unjustified harassment and eviction. Authorities will not be permitted to evict a registered vendor without providing an alternative location, while at least 15 days’ written notice must be issued before eviction.
Operating without a valid vending certificate will be a punishable offence. Selling or transferring a vending certificate could result in a fine of up to Rs3,000, while repeated violations or resistance could attract a fine of up to Rs20,000, one month in prison, or both.
The bill also provides for action against illegal encroachments, violations of cleanliness rules and the sale of prohibited items. Government officials found harassing vendors may face departmental action, while harassment by shopkeepers or citizens could result in a Rs20,000 fine or one month in prison.
According to the bill, more than 140,000 street vendors across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa conduct business worth over Rs380 billion annually, while the street-vending sector contributes approximately Rs130 billion to the national economy each year.
The legislation estimates that effective regulation of the sector could generate an additional Rs2.5 billion to Rs5 billion in annual revenue. It is also described as the first comprehensive legal framework for street vendors under local governments in the province.
The KP Assembly session was subsequently adjourned until August 26.
KP Assembly passed a landmark street-vendor protection bill offering registration, digital certificates, vending zones, eviction safeguards and appeal rights to over 140,000 vendors.
