ISLAMABAD (Kashmir English): The federal government has appointed Grade-22 Pakistan Administrative Service (PAS) officer Dr Muhammad Fakhr Alam Irfan as the new Chief Secretary of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa with immediate effect.
According to an official notification issued on October 11, Dr Irfan’s appointment will remain in force until further orders. Before his appointment, he was serving as Secretary of the Power Division at the federal Ministry of Energy.
Dr Fakhr Alam Irfan belongs to Mardan district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and will now lead the province’s civil administration.
Appointment Comes Amid KP Security and Governance Challenges
The appointment comes amid heightened political and administrative uncertainty in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where the federal government has raised concerns over the deteriorating law-and-order situation and the growing threat of terrorism.
The Federal Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, recently reviewed the province’s security situation and was briefed on the challenges facing police and other law enforcement agencies.
Following the meeting, the Cabinet recommended that the Prime Minister advise President Asif Ali Zardari to consider imposing an emergency in the province under Articles 232 and 234 of the Constitution. The Prime Minister’s Office subsequently confirmed that the advice had been forwarded to the Presidency.
Dr Irfan’s appointment is a significant administrative development as the federal and provincial authorities confront security threats and institutional capacity challenges.
Focus on Administrative Coordination
As Chief Secretary, Dr Irfan will head the provincial bureaucracy and oversee coordination among government departments. His responsibilities will include administrative management and coordination with relevant institutions on governance and security-related matters.
The appointment notification does not itself alter the constitutional status of the provincial government or establish that PTI’s tenure has ended. Any such change would require separate, legally effective action.
Dr Irfan’s appointment takes immediate effect and will continue until further orders.
