The names of the 11 members of the special advisory council headed by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi have been revealed. The council comprises prominent figures from the administrative, economic, legal, political, medical and other professional sectors.
The members include 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 former surgeon general of the Pakistan Army.
The council will provide advice on key provincial matters, including finance, energy, minerals, law, industry, home affairs, information, education, health and development. Here is a list of the council members and their respective portfolios:
1. Dr Syed Amir Abdullah — Education
Former caretaker provincial minister Dr Syed Amir Abdullah will oversee education-related matters.
He has previously served as caretaker minister for industries and commerce and worked as a consultant for the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
2. Tariq Mahmood Pasha — Finance, Revenue, Excise and Taxation
Former FBR chairman Tariq Mahmood Pasha will oversee finance, revenue, excise and taxation.
He has also served as the prime minister’s special assistant on revenue and as secretary of economic affairs.
3. Usman Saifullah Khan — Energy, Power, Planning and Development
Former senator Usman Saifullah Khan will oversee energy, power, planning and development.
He has previously served as a board member of Pakistan State Oil (PSO) and chairman of the All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA).
4. Amir Javed — Law and Parliamentary Affairs
Former Khyber Pakhtunkhwa advocate general Amir Javed will oversee law and parliamentary affairs.
He has extensive experience in constitutional matters, government legal consultancy and state litigation before the higher courts.
5. Samar Haroon Bilour — Information and Broadcasting
Samar Haroon Bilour will oversee information and broadcasting affairs.
She has previously served as the provincial information secretary and spokesperson for the Awami National Party (ANP) in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. She has also chaired a standing committee of the KP Assembly.
6. 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.
7. Maulana Muhammad Tayyab Qureshi — Auqaf and Religious Affairs
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s chief khatib, Maulana Muhammad Tayyab Qureshi, will oversee auqaf and religious affairs.
He is the principal of Jamia Ashrafia Peshawar and a religious scholar who has been awarded the Tamgha-e-Imtiaz.
8. Lieutenant General (Retd) Nigar Johar Khan — Health
Former Pakistan Army surgeon general Lieutenant General (Retd) Nigar Johar Khan will oversee health-related matters.
She is the Pakistan Army’s first female three-star general and has received the Hilal-e-Imtiaz (Military) and Tamgha-e-Imtiaz (Military).
She has extensive experience in hospital management, medical facilities and health emergency operations. She also played a significant role in measures concerning medical facilities, safety protocols and vaccination efforts in hospitals during the COVID-19 pandemic.
9. Kifayatullah Khan — Home and Tribal Affairs
Former inspector general of prisons Kifayatullah Khan will oversee home and tribal affairs.
He has previously served as chairman of the FATA Tribunal and as commissioner in various divisions of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
His experience includes provincial administration, tribal affairs and internal governance.
10. Dr Sarfaraz Ali Shah — Mines and Minerals
Dr Sarfaraz Ali Shah, who holds a PhD in economics, will oversee mines and minerals.
He has previously served as an adviser on planning and development and communications and works during the tenure of caretaker chief minister Azam Khan. He is also associated with the UK-based Afford Business Club as a consultant.
11. Asif Rafiq Afridi — Communications and Works, Local Government, Housing and Transport
Former caretaker provincial minister Asif Rafiq Afridi will oversee communications and works, local government, housing and transport.
He previously served as minister for agriculture, livestock, food and environment in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa caretaker cabinet.
Role of the Advisory Council
Headed by Governor Faisal Karim Kundi, the special advisory council is expected to provide recommendations on key administrative, economic and development matters in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
The council brings together former senior government officials, experienced political figures and specialists from various professional backgrounds.
It is expected to propose reforms across different sectors and recommend measures to improve governance, accelerate development and enhance public service delivery across the province.