PESHAWAR — Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi has established an 11-member Special Advisory Council following the imposition of an emergency and governor’s rule in the province.
The council comprises prominent administrative, economic, legal, political, and medical figures, including two former chairmen of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), a former senator, a former advocate general, a former inspector general of prisons and a retired surgeon general of the Pakistan Army.
Experts have been assigned responsibilities covering finance, energy, minerals, law, industry, home affairs, information, education, health, and development.
Who will oversee the council’s portfolios?
Dr Syed Amir Abdullah—Education
Former caretaker provincial minister Dr Syed Amir Abdullah will oversee education. He has previously served as caretaker minister for industries and commerce and worked as a consultant for the United Nations Development Programme.
Tariq Mahmood Pasha — Finance and Revenue
Former FBR chairman Tariq Mahmood Pasha will oversee finance, revenue, excise and taxation. He has also served as the prime minister’s former special assistant for revenue and as federal secretary for economic affairs.
Usman Saifullah Khan — Energy and Development
Former senator Usman Saifullah Khan will handle energy, electricity, planning and development. He previously served on the board of Pakistan State Oil and as chairman of the All Pakistan Textile Mills Association. He is the nephew of veteran politician Salim Saifullah Khan.
Aamir Javed — Law and Parliamentary Affairs
Former Khyber Pakhtunkhwa advocate general Aamir Javed will be responsible for law and parliamentary affairs. He has extensive experience in constitutional matters, government legal advice and representing the government in cases before the higher courts.
Samar Haroon Bilour — Information and Broadcasting
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz MNA Samar Haroon Bilour will oversee information and broadcasting. She has previously served as information secretary of the Awami National Party in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, an MPA and chairperson of a standing committee of the provincial assembly.
Dr Muhammad Irshad — Industries and Commerce
Former FBR chairman Dr Muhammad Irshad will oversee industries and commerce. He served as FBR chairman in 2017 and has experience in tax administration and institutional reforms.
Maulana Muhammad Tayyab Qureshi — Auqaf and Religious Affairs
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s chief khateeb, Maulana Muhammad Tayyab Qureshi, will oversee Auqaf and religious affairs. He is principal of Jamia Ashrafia Peshawar and an award-winning religious scholar who has received the Tamgha-i-Imtiaz.
Lieutenant General (retired) Nigar Johar Khan — Health
Former Pakistan Army surgeon general Lieutenant General (retired) Nigar Johar Khan will oversee health. She was the Pakistan Army’s first female three-star general and has received the Hilal-i-Imtiaz (Military) and Tamgha-i-Imtiaz (Military).
She has extensive experience in hospital administration, medical services and health emergencies. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she played an important role in measures concerning hospital facilities, protective arrangements and vaccination.
Kifayatullah Khan — Home and Tribal Affairs
Former inspector general of prisons Kifayatullah Khan will oversee home and tribal affairs. He has also served as chairman of the FATA Tribunal and commissioner in various divisions of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Dr Sarfaraz Ali Shah — Minerals and Mining
Dr Sarfaraz Ali Shah, who holds a PhD in economics, will oversee minerals and mining. During the caretaker government led by Azam Khan, he served as adviser for planning and development and communications and works. He is also associated as a consultant with the UK-based Afford Business Club.
Asif Rafiq Afridi—Communications, Works and Local Government
Former caretaker provincial minister Asif Rafiq Afridi will oversee communications and works, local government, housing and transport. During the caretaker cabinet in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, he served as minister for agriculture, livestock, food and environment.
Council to advise on administration and development
The Special Advisory Council, led by Governor Faisal Karim Kundi, will provide advice on key administrative, economic, and development matters in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
It is expected to submit proposals for reforms across different sectors and recommend measures to improve public services in the province
