KP Emergency: Administrators Appointed in 11 Designated Districts
ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN — WEB DESK | October 12, 2026
The federal government has notified the establishment of Area Development Secretariats in 11 designated districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, introducing a separate administrative structure following the imposition of emergency and governor’s rule in the province.
Under the notification, an additional chief secretary will head the secretariats and serve as administrator of the designated districts. The arrangement places local administrative officers and personnel under the secretariats’ administrative control.
Which districts are included?
The notification lists Dera Ismail Khan, Tank, Lakki Marwat, Bannu, Bajaur, Mohmand, Khyber, Kurram, Orakzai, North Waziristan and South Waziristan.
The administrator will oversee administrative affairs and exercise specified powers relating to governance, security, development and institutional supervision. The administrator will also be authorised to issue instructions to civil administration, police and military authorities and manage the allocation and transfer of funds under the notified framework.
The secretariats are intended to coordinate government operations, security arrangements and development initiatives in the designated areas.
Separate administrative structure
The federal government has also provided for Area Representatives and Development Councils comprising prominent personalities from the designated districts. These councils are expected to operate under a defined structure, with appointments made for specified tenures.
A separate appointment notification has placed Muhammad Yahya Akhunzada, previously an additional secretary at the Prime Minister’s Office, at the disposal of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government until further orders.
The measures follow the federal government’s announcement of emergency and governor’s rule under Articles 232 and 234 of the Constitution. Federal officials have cited security challenges and concerns over counterterrorism coordination as reasons for the intervention.
The provincial political leadership has opposed the suspension of the elected provincial government, raising concerns about provincial autonomy and the treatment of its democratic mandate.
District count requires clarification
There is a discrepancy in public reporting about the number of districts covered by the wider emergency-related administrative arrangements. The notification concerning Area Development Secretariats lists 11 designated districts, while the government’s broader announcement referred to a separate secretariat for 12 districts.
The exact scope of the different administrative measures should therefore be understood according to their respective notifications. Further official clarification may be needed to reconcile the district counts.
The new structure marks a significant change in how the designated districts are administered, with implementation and its effects on local governance and security remaining important developments to monitor.
