Despite facing significant opposition, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Muhammad Sohail Afridi has moved forward with a major expansion of the provincial cabinet. On Monday, March 30, 2026, official sources confirmed the decision to add 14 more members, bringing a mix of former ministers and representatives from various divisions into the fold.
Key Appointments and Re-inductions
The expansion marks the return of several prominent political figures to the cabinet:
- Syed Qasim Ali Shah (Peshawar): A former Minister of Health and Social Welfare, he is being re-inducted into the cabinet. Shah is known for his work on the Sehat Insaf Card during the previous administration.
- Merged Districts Representation: To address development in the tribal areas, Asif Mehsud (South Waziristan) and Usman Bettani (Tank) have been selected for cabinet roles.
- Regional Inclusion:
- Hazara Division: Iftikhar Jadoon and Ikram Ghazi.
- Mardan & Charsadda: Tariq Aryani, Ehtesham Khan, and Iftikharullah Jan.
- Malakand & Swat: Pir Muswari and Mian Sharafat Ali.
- Karak & Lahiri: Khurshid Khattak and Humayun Khan.
Strategic Rationale & Controversy
The Chief Minister’s decision comes at a time of fiscal tightening and administrative reforms:
- Governance Roadmap 2.0: Just days ago, on March 26, CM Sohail Afridi launched the “Good Governance Roadmap 2.0.” This cabinet expansion is reportedly aimed at ensuring the effective implementation of this roadmap across all districts.
- Political Inclusion: Unusually, the expansion includes two members who lost their elections, a move that has drawn sharp criticism from the opposition, who claim it undermines the democratic mandate.
- ADP 2026-27: The new cabinet members will be tasked with overseeing the Annual Development Programme, which prioritizes a Rs 1,000 billion “Roshan Qabas” package for merged districts and the establishment of a “Health City.”
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