Web Desk: Federal government has appointed Muhammad Fakhar Alam Irfan as chief secretary of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, according to a notification issued on Sunday, as Islamabad moves to strengthen administration in the province amid worsening security concerns.
Irfan, a Grade 22 officer of the Pakistan Administrative Service, will take charge of the province’s top bureaucratic post with immediate effect and will remain in the position until further orders.
Before his appointment, Irfan served as secretary in the Power Division of the Ministry of Energy at the federal level.
The federal government issued the notification on Oct. 11, 2026, formally transferring him to the provincial administration.
Irfan is originally from Mardan district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, giving him familiarity with the province he has now been tasked with overseeing at the highest administrative level.
The appointment comes as the federal government faces growing concerns over law and order in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where security agencies have reported a sharp increase in terrorist attacks and operational challenges.
The federal cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, recently reviewed the security situation and expressed serious concern over the deteriorating law-and-order environment in the province.
Cabinet members were briefed on the growing terrorist threat and the difficulties confronting police and other law enforcement agencies.
Against that backdrop, the federal cabinet recommended that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif advise President Asif Ali Zardari to consider imposing an emergency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa under Articles 232 and 234 of the Constitution.
The recommendation followed briefings on the security situation, reports from relevant institutions and unsuccessful negotiations with government delegations, according to the information provided.
The appointment of a new chief secretary therefore comes at a critical juncture for the province, with the federal government seeking stronger administrative coordination as it responds to security and governance challenges.
Irfan is expected to oversee the provincial bureaucracy as authorities confront security threats, institutional capacity gaps and broader governance concerns.
The new chief secretary will also have to coordinate with law enforcement and other institutions as the government seeks to improve administrative preparedness and strengthen the response to terrorism.
The appointment takes immediate effect and will remain valid until further orders.
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