KOHAT – Women officers are increasingly taking on key administrative and law enforcement responsibilities across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), with more than 35 reportedly serving as additional secretaries, additional deputy commissioners (ADCs), assistant commissioners (ACs) and additional assistant commissioners (AACs) in various districts of the province.
The appointment of a woman as district police officer (DPO) in Nowshera further highlights the growing participation of women in public administration and law enforcement, fields traditionally dominated by men.
Sara Rehman, a BS-18 Pakistan Administrative Service (PAS) officer, has recently been posted as additional secretary in the Health Department. She previously served as deputy commissioner of Dera Ismail Khan and assistant commissioner in Peshawar.
Her career progression reflects the growing presence of women officers in senior administrative positions beyond district-level field assignments.
From conducting public hearings and addressing citizens’ complaints to enforcing price-control measures, monitoring government services and leading anti-encroachment operations, women officers are playing an increasingly visible role in field administration.
They are also holding open kachehries in different localities, allowing citizens to present their grievances directly to the authorities. These initiatives help facilitate the resolution of complaints, where possible, and ensure that unresolved matters are referred to the relevant departments for further action.
According to information gathered from various sources, women officers are serving in administrative positions in Peshawar, Mardan, Nowshera, Swabi, Charsadda, Mansehra, Haripur, Swat, Lower Dir, Kohat and other districts of the province. Mardan and Swabi are particularly notable, with a combined total of 10 women reportedly serving as assistant commissioners (ACs) and additional assistant commissioners (AACs).
Quratul Ain Wazir, popularly known as Miss Wazir, who hails from Bannu, has recently assumed charge as chief executive officer (CEO) of the Water and Sanitation Services Company (WSSC) Peshawar.
Soon after taking charge, she launched a cleanliness drive in the provincial capital, expressing her determination to improve sanitation services and restore Peshawar’s identity as the “City of Flowers.”
Miss Wazir has reportedly focused on improving cleanliness and addressing public complaints. She introduced a dedicated complaint number to facilitate the reporting of drinking water and sanitation-related issues. She has also maintained a visible field presence to monitor service delivery and follow up on public grievances, sometimes working late into the evening.
She has stressed the importance of accountability within the WSSC, warning that employees who fail to perform their duties could face termination. Her initiatives underscore the importance of effective monitoring, public engagement and accountability in municipal service delivery.
Known as an “Iron Lady” for her achievements, Miss Wazir has served in various positions across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab and the federal government, gaining extensive experience in diverse administrative roles.
In Mardan, Dr Alina Shakeel Nagra is serving as assistant commissioner of Takht Bhai. Additional assistant commissioners Shagufta Sarwar, Hina Khan, Hania Shah and Faryal Shoaib are also performing administrative duties in different areas of the district.
In neighbouring Swabi, women officers include AAC Umm-e-Roman in Swabi-I, AAC Nusrat Bibi in Swabi-II, AAC Dr Yamin Sana in Topi and AAC Sabiha Hastam in Razar.
Their assignments place them at the forefront of local administration, where they deal directly with public grievances, supervise administrative operations, monitor revenue officers and other officials to ensure accountability, and facilitate the effective implementation of government policies.
Marvi Malik Sher, a BS-18 Provincial Management Service (PMS) officer, has recently been transferred and posted as additional deputy commissioner in Abbottabad. She previously served as assistant commissioner in Mansehra and Abbottabad.
AAC Anmol Anwar, who was previously posted in Lahore (Swabi), has also reportedly been transferred and posted as additional assistant commissioner in Abbottabad.
In Mansehra, Assistant Commissioner Sana Fatima and AAC (Revenue) Afsheen Rehman are performing administrative duties, while Ayesha Rafique is serving as planning control officer in the district’s Local Planning and Enforcement Unit (LP&EU).
In Haripur, ADC General Humaira Mahmood is serving in the district administration. Ayesha Nasir, who previously served as assistant commissioner in Kabal, Swat, has reportedly been transferred and posted as AAC in Khanpur, Haripur.
In Swat, Assistant Commissioner Shawana Haleem is serving in Barikot, while AAC Mohzad is posted in Kalam.
Dr Izza Arshad has recently been posted as additional deputy commissioner (General) in Lower Dir, further strengthening women’s representation in senior administrative positions across the province.
In the provincial capital, Assistant Commissioner Dr Sara Zainab is serving in Saddar, while Assistant Commissioner Hasina Khan is posted in Hayatabad. Additional assistant commissioners Anum Mehmood, Meena Zakir, Samia Jabeen and Gulshan Ara are also serving in Peshawar.
In Charsadda, ADC General Reena Abbasi and AAC-I Nida Shams are performing administrative duties.
Nowshera’s district administration includes ADC Finance Rizwana Dar, Assistant Commissioner Maryam Hameed and AAC Fatima Khaliq.
In Kohat, AAC Aruba Iftikhar is among the women officers performing field administrative duties.
The growing presence of women in public service is not confined to civil administration. In Nowshera, District Police Officer Sonia Shamroz is serving in a key police leadership position, highlighting women’s participation in law enforcement across the province.
Meanwhile, senior police officer Pari Gul Tareen has reportedly been transferred from Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) Police, with her services placed at the disposal of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police for further posting.
Women serving in administrative and police positions are responsible for handling sensitive public matters, supervising official operations and responding to citizens’ concerns in challenging field environments.
Their duties include market inspections, monitoring prices of essential commodities, conducting anti-encroachment operations, overseeing public services and ensuring the implementation of government policies.
The growing representation of women in administrative and law enforcement institutions marks a significant development in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s public service landscape. Their field assignments provide opportunities to engage directly with communities, address public grievances and contribute to administrative decision-making.
Their increasing visibility in leadership positions may also encourage younger women to pursue careers in the civil service and other public-sector institutions.
However, achieving more balanced representation across all districts remains an important consideration. Available information suggests that women’s presence in field administration is comparatively limited in some southern districts, highlighting the need to examine their distribution across the province.
As more women take on field assignments and leadership responsibilities, their participation is becoming an increasingly prominent feature of KP’s evolving administrative and law enforcement landscape.