ISLAMABAD: The federal government has issued a notification naming 48 members to the Regional Representative and Development Council for 12 districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, following consultations with local jirgas.
The announcement identifies the council’s leadership and district representation.
The council is expected to provide an institutional forum for local representatives to highlight public concerns, contribute to development discussions and support oversight of projects across the participating districts.
Shaukatullah Khan Named Chairperson
Shaukatullah Khan from Bajaur has been appointed chairperson, while Malik Khan Marjan from North Waziristan will serve as vice-chairperson. Both are included among the representatives nominated from their respective district.
Their appointments establish the leadership of a council bringing together nominees from tribal communities and other participating areas. The announced arrangement places local representation at the centre of its proposed consultative role.
The members were selected through mutual consultations among local jirgas, with deputy commissioners facilitating the nomination process in their districts.
The additional chief secretary, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief secretary and provincial governor also played roles in the process.
The nominations were based on consultations with local tribes and consideration of community representation.
The process therefore combined traditional consultative structures with administrative involvement, leading to the final list of members announced for the council.
Khyber, Kurram and North Waziristan have five representatives each, giving these three districts a combined 15 seats.
Bajaur, Upper South Waziristan, Lower South Waziristan, Bannu, Dera Ismail Khan and Lakki Marwat have four members each. Together, these six districts account for 24 seats.
Mohmand, Orakzai and Tank have three representatives each, completing the council’s total membership of 48.
The distribution gives every participating district a place in the forum, although the number of representatives varies between three and five.
Public Concerns and Development Oversight
The council is expected to help identify local problems and provide a channel for community leadership to participate in discussions affecting their areas.
Its anticipated role includes supporting more effective monitoring of development projects and bringing district concerns into a shared institutional setting. These are stated expectations rather than evidence of results already achieved.
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The supplied announcement does not specify the council’s tenure, meeting schedule, budget or detailed decision-making powers. Those operational details will be important in establishing how members present recommendations, coordinate with government departments and follow progress on issues raised by their communities.
