PESHAWAR: Dr Shahzad Khan Bangash has been appointed as the chief secretary of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, replacing Dr Kazim Niaz, who has been posted as the federal secretary water resources division, a notification issued by the Establishment Division, Islamabad, said.

A career BS-21 Pakistan Administrative Service officer and doctor by qualification, Mr Bangash was serving as federal secretary water resources division before his return to his native province.

He has previously served as chief secretary AJK, DG Immigration and Passport in the ministry of interior as well as additional chief secretary, planning and development, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Mr Bangash has also served in Kosovo as part of the UN Mission.

Born in Behzadi Chakarkot, Kohat, Mr Bangash went to school in his home district and Peshawar, did his matriculation from Cadet College, Kohat, FSc from Edwardes College, Peshawar, and MBBS from Khyber Medical College, Peshawar, in 1988/89. He belongs to the 19th Common Training Programme.

Mr Bangash is the fourth chief secretary of KP in the three years since Mahmood Khan took over as the chief minister of the province. Amongst his predecessors, Kazim Niaz has the longest term, spanning over two years.

The new incumbent has set his priorities already. “Better governance, improvement in service delivery and restoration of trust between the citizens and the government will be amongst my top priorities,” he said.

Published in Dawn, November 18th, 2021