PESHAWAR: An 11-member Advisory Council has been formed under Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi to advise on the province’s administrative, economic and developmental matters, bringing together former senior government officials, political figures and experts from various fields.
The Advisory Council comprises prominent figures from the country’s administrative, economic, legal, political and medical sectors. The council includes two former chairmen of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), a former senator, a former Advocate General, a former Inspector General (IG) and a former Surgeon General of the Pakistan Army.
The advisory council includes experts representing the sectors of finance, energy, minerals, law, industry, interior affairs, information, education, health, and development.
خیبرپختونخوا کی 11 رکنی ایڈوائزری کمیٹی۔۔۔۔۔ بہت بہت مبارک
@SamarHBilour https://t.co/WkvKDvKMGa— Sheraz Ahmad Sherazi (@Sherazi_Silmian) October 11, 2026
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 the prime minister’s special assistant on revenue and as secretary of 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 served on the board of Pakistan State Oil and as chairman of the All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA).
Amir Javed — Law and Parliamentary Affairs
Former Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Advocate General Amir Javed will advise on law and parliamentary affairs. He has extensive experience in constitutional matters, government legal consultancy and representing the state before higher courts.
Samar Haroon Bilour — Information and Broadcasting
Samar Haroon Bilour will oversee information and broadcasting. She has served as the provincial information secretary and spokesperson for the Awami National Party (ANP) in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. She has also served as the Chairperson of a Standing Committee in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa 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 a religious scholar who has received 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 matters.
She is the 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 emergencies.
She also played a role in hospital services, safety protocols and vaccination-related measures during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Kifayat Ullah Khan — Home and Tribal Affairs
Former inspector general of prisons Kifayat Ullah Khan will oversee home and tribal affairs.
He has 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.
Dr Sarfaraz Ali Shah — Mines and Minerals
Dr Sarfaraz Ali Shah, who holds a PhD in economics, will advise on mining and minerals.
He served as an adviser for 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.
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 the Governor of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the Advisory Council is intended to provide advice on the province’s economic and developmental priorities.
Its members bring experience from government administration, politics, law, finance, industry, health and other sectors.
The council is expected to propose reforms across provincial departments and recommend measures to improve governance and public service delivery.
