Azad Jammu and Kashmir has made a historic appointment by naming its first Woman Chief Economist in the Planning and Development Department. The decision marks an important step toward greater gender representation in senior government roles.
According to an official notification, Mahnaz Faheem has been promoted from BS-19 to BS-20. She has been appointed as the Woman Chief Economist in the Planning and Development Department. The notification was issued by the Services and General Administration Department on Thursday.
The promotion was approved by Selection Board-I, which is chaired by the chief secretary. The board finalized the decision during its meeting held on December 9 last year. Officials confirmed that all required procedures were followed before approving the promotion.
Mahnaz Faheem was previously serving as chief of section in the Planning and Development Department. She joined the Azad Jammu and Kashmir civil service in 1997. Her first role was as a planning officer.
She holds a Master of Business Administration degree from Quaid-e-Azam University, Islamabad. In 2000, she completed another master’s degree in gender and development from the University of Sussex in the United Kingdom. She was among the first two Chevening scholars from Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
Earlier in her academic career, she earned a gold medal in BSc with double mathematics and physics from the University of Azad Jammu and Kashmir. Her strong academic background has supported her long career in public service.
Mahnaz Faheem also worked on two UNDP-funded projects after the 2005 earthquake in AJK. These projects focused on recovery and development in affected areas.
In her statement, she thanked the government for trusting her with the role. She said the appointment as Woman Chief Economist was both an honor and a responsibility.
She highlighted the importance of women’s participation in senior policy roles. She said inclusive decision-making leads to balanced development. She added that her focus will be on evidence-based and gender-sensitive economic planning.
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The appointment of a Woman Chief Economist is being seen as a positive move. It reflects growing efforts to promote equality in leadership positions across Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
