PESHAWAR (Kashmir English): The names of members of an 11-member special advisory council headed by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi have emerged, with former senior government officials, political figures and experts from various fields included in the body.
The council includes two former chairmen of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), a former senator, a former advocate general, a former inspector general and a former surgeon general of the Pakistan Army.
Its members will provide advice on key provincial matters, including finance, energy, minerals, law, industry, internal affairs, information, education, health and development.
The council’s members and their assigned portfolios are as follows:
Dr Syed Amir Abdullah – Education
Dr Syed Amir Abdullah, a former caretaker provincial minister for industries and commerce and a consultant with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), will advise on education-related matters.
Tariq Mahmood Pasha – Finance, Revenue, Excise and Taxation
Former FBR chairman Tariq Mahmood Pasha will oversee advisory matters related to finance, revenue, excise and taxation. He has also served as special assistant to the prime minister on revenue and secretary of economic affairs.
Usman Saifullah Khan – Energy and Power, Planning and Development
Former senator Usman Saifullah Khan will advise on energy, power, planning and development. He has served as a board member of Pakistan State Oil and chairman of the All Pakistan Textile Mills Association.
Aamir Javed – Law and Parliamentary Affairs
Former Khyber Pakhtunkhwa advocate general Aamir Javed will advise on legal and parliamentary matters. He has extensive experience in constitutional affairs, government legal consultancy and representing the government before higher courts.
Samar Haroon Bilour – Information and Broadcasting
Samar Haroon Bilour will handle information and broadcasting matters. She has previously served as the provincial information secretary and spokesperson of the Awami National Party in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. She has also chaired a standing committee of the provincial assembly.
Dr Muhammad Irshad – Industries and Commerce
Former FBR chairman Dr Muhammad Irshad will advise on 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 advisory matters concerning Auqaf and religious affairs. He is the principal of Jamia Ashrafia Peshawar and a recipient of the Tamgha-e-Imtiaz.
Lieutenant General (retd) Nigar Johar Khan – Health
Former Pakistan Army surgeon general Lieutenant General (retd) Nigar Johar Khan will advise on health-related matters. She was the first woman in Pakistan to attain the rank of three-star general and has received the Hilal-e-Imtiaz (Military) and Tamgha-e-Imtiaz (Military).
She has extensive experience in hospital administration, healthcare delivery and emergency medical management. She also played an important role in managing hospital facilities, safety measures and vaccination arrangements during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Kifayatullah Khan – Home and Tribal Affairs
Former inspector general of prisons Kifayatullah Khan will advise on home and tribal affairs. He has served as chairman of the FATA Tribunal and commissioner in different divisions of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. His experience includes provincial administration, tribal affairs and internal security management.
Dr Sarfaraz Ali Shah – Mines and Minerals
Dr Sarfaraz Ali Shah, who holds a PhD in economics, will advise on mining and minerals. He previously served as an adviser on planning and development and communications and works during the caretaker government of former chief minister Azam Khan. He is also associated with the UK’s Afford Business Club as a consultant.
Asif Rafiq Afridi – Communication and Works, Local Government, Housing and Transport
Former caretaker provincial minister Asif Rafiq Afridi will advise on communications and works, local government, housing and transport. He previously served in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa caretaker cabinet, overseeing agriculture, livestock, food and environment.
Role of the Advisory Council
The special advisory council, led by Governor Faisal Karim Kundi, is expected to provide recommendations on major administrative, economic and development-related matters in the province.
The body brings together experienced former officials, political figures and specialists from different sectors. Its anticipated role includes proposing reforms, improving public service delivery and offering policy advice on key provincial issues.
