Peshawar, October 11,2026: The names of members of an 11-member special advisory council headed by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi have emerged, bringing together former senior government officials, political figures and experts in finance, law, healthcare, education and other key sectors.
The council includes two former chairmen of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), former senator Usman Saifullah Khan, former Khyber Pakhtunkhwa advocate general Amir Javed, former inspector general of prisons Kifayatullah Khan and retired Lieutenant General Nigar Johar Khan, the Pakistan Army’s former surgeon general.
The members have been assigned portfolios covering education, finance and revenue, energy and power, planning and development, law and parliamentary affairs, information and broadcasting, industries and commerce, religious affairs, health, home and tribal affairs, mines and minerals, and communications and works.
The council is expected to advise on key administrative, economic and development matters in the province, recommend sectoral reforms and propose measures to improve public service delivery.
Members and their portfolios
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 as a consultant to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
Tariq Mahmood Pasha — Finance, revenue, excise and taxation
Former FBR chairman Tariq Mahmood Pasha will advise on finance, revenue, excise and taxation. He has also served as special assistant to the prime minister on revenue and federal secretary for economic affairs.
Usman Saifullah Khan — Energy and power, planning and development
Former senator Usman Saifullah Khan will oversee energy, power, planning and development. He has previously served on the board of Pakistan State Oil (PSO) and as chairman of the All Pakistan Textile Mills Association.
Amir Javed — Law and parliamentary affairs
Former KP advocate general Amir Javed will oversee legal and parliamentary affairs. His experience includes constitutional matters, legal advice to the government and representation of the provincial government before higher courts.
Samar Haroon Bilour — Information and broadcasting
Samar Haroon Bilour will look after information and broadcasting. She has served as the provincial information secretary and spokesperson of the Awami National Party (ANP) in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and 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 headed the FBR 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 the principal of Jamia Ashrafia Peshawar and a recipient of the Tamgha-e-Imtiaz.
Lieutenant General (retired) Nigar Johar Khan — Health
Retired Lieutenant General Nigar Johar Khan, the Pakistan Army’s former surgeon general, will advise on health-related matters.
She was the first woman in the Pakistan Army to attain the rank of lieutenant general and has received the Hilal-e-Imtiaz (Military) and Tamgha-e-Imtiaz (Military).
Her experience includes hospital administration, healthcare delivery and emergency medical management. She also contributed to healthcare arrangements, protective measures and vaccination-related initiatives during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Kifayatullah Khan — Home and tribal affairs
Former inspector general of prisons Kifayatullah Khan will oversee home and tribal affairs. He has served as chairman of the FATA Tribunal and as commissioner in different divisions of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
His experience includes provincial administration, tribal affairs and internal law and order management.
Dr Sarfaraz Ali Shah — Mines and minerals
Dr Sarfaraz Ali Shah, who holds a PhD in economics, will advise on mines 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-based Affordable Business Club as a consultant.
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 in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa caretaker cabinet, handling agriculture, livestock, food and environmental affairs.
Council to advise on provincial reforms
The special advisory council is expected to provide recommendations on Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s administrative, economic and development priorities.
Its proposed role includes suggesting reforms across key sectors, drawing on the expertise of former senior officials, political figures and specialists, and recommending measures to improve public services.
The council’s advice is intended to support policy development and administrative decision-making in the province.
