PESHAWAR: Samar Haroon Bilour, adviser to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa governor on information and public relations, assumed her responsibilities on Monday. Upon taking charge, she arrived at her office at Lahori Gate, where party (PML-N) workers and supporters accorded her a warm welcome. She subsequently interacted with media representatives and outlined her priorities.

Ms Bilour expressed her gratitude for the confidence reposed in her by the KP governor, pledging to discharge her responsibilities with dedication and to play an active role in serving the people of the province. She said that serving the KP people was a privilege and that she remained committed to upholding the Bilour family’s longstanding tradition of public service.

Describing peace and prosperity for the people as her longstanding aspiration, she pledged to utilise her abilities and experience to contribute towards achieving these objectives. Responding to a question about the imposition of governor’s rule, she said that no decision had yet been made regarding its duration.

Criticising the PTI government’s performance over the past 13 years, she said that political discourse had increasingly been characterised by abusive language, while Peshawar had suffered from neglect and deteriorating urban conditions.

Ms Bilour maintained that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa lacked neither resources nor potential; what it needed was a coherent strategy, effective governance and a firm commitment to development. With the right approach, she said, the province could progress on a par with other provinces.

Highlighting the immediate priorities of the provincial administration, Samar Bilour said that the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa governor had convened a meeting of the Apex Committee on the very first day of her assuming office. The meeting underscored the importance of addressing the law and order situation and strengthening security across the province.

She emphasised that sustainable peace was fundamental to development, economic progress and public prosperity. Ensuring the safety of citizens and protecting their lives and property, she said, remained paramount.

Paying tribute to the sacrifices of the security forces in the fight against terrorism, she referred to figures indicating that 232 personnel of the Pakistan Army had laid down their lives. She said that honouring the sacrifices of the martyrs and ensuring the welfare and support of their families was a collective responsibility.

Published in Dawn, October 13th, 2026