11 KP districts: Govt notifies ‘area development secretariats’
ISLAMABAD: The federal government has notified setting up Area Development Secretariats in 11 designated districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) to improve security, governance and development.
The notification states the secretariats will be established in Dera Ismail Khan, Tank, Lakki Marwat, Bannu, Bajaur, Mohmand, Khyber, Kurram, Orakzai, North Waziristan and South Waziristan.
An additional chief secretary will head the secretariats and also serve as the administrator of the designated districts. Certain specified constitutional provisions and the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Rules of Business will not apply to the designated districts.
Meanwhile, the federal government also notified the appointment of Muhammad Yahya Akhunzada to the KP government who was previously serving as an additional secretary at the Prime Minister’s Office. His services have been placed at the disposal of the K-P government under Section 10 of the Civil Servants Act, 1973. The appointment will remain effective until further orders.
The prime minister will order further postings and transfers in the designated districts on the recommendation of the administrator. All officers and personnel posted in these districts will fall under the administrative control of the secretariats.
The notification states the establishment of the secretariats to ensure peace, security, better governance and development in the designated districts.
The Area Development Secretariats will operate under the supervision of an Area Representative and Development Council, comprising prominent personalities from the designated districts. The council will be headed by a chairman.
The chairman, vice chairman, spokesperson and members of the council will be appointed for a specified tenure, according to the notification.
The administrator will exercise all administrative and legal powers of the provincial government in the designated districts, including authority over governance, security, development and oversight of institutions.
The administrator will also be authorised to issue necessary instructions to the civil administration, police and military authorities.
The administrator will issue orders concerning the operational and administrative affairs of the Area Development Secretariats and will also have the authority to order the allocation and transfer of funds.
Orders issued by the administrator will carry the same legal authority as those of the provincial government.
The security arrangements will be improved through coordination with the armed forces and provincial institutions. Departments may also be reorganised to ensure public safety and the provision of essential services.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026