The Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) has created what was never known in history by appointing the first female chief economist of the Planning and Development (P&D) Department. Mahnaz Faheem has been offered this senior position officially after promotion to BS-20.
Selection Board-I, which is headed by the chief secretary, passed the promotion at a meeting held on December 9, 2025. This is a major stride toward ensuring that women representation in top policy making positions in the region is increased.
Education and career of Mahnaz Faheem
After obtaining a master of business administration (MBA) degree in 1997 at Quaid-e-Azam University, Islamabad, Mahnaz Faheem was recruited in the AJK civil service as a planning officer in 1997. She is a master graduate in Gender and Development at the University of Sussex, UK, and one of the earliest Chevening scholars at AJK.
Previously, she won a gold medal in BSc with two sciences in the University of Azad Jammu and Kashmir in mathematics and physics. She also has experience in development planning having worked on UNDP funded projects after the AJK earthquake that occurred in 2005.
Mahnaz Faheem’s Vision
On her appointment, Mahnaz Faheem thanked the government and described the appointment as an honor and responsibility. She stressed the need to have gender sensitive, evidence based and equitable economic planning that would provide actual results in development in Azad Kashmir.
This historic assignment underscores how Annex J believes in the inclusive development and dismantling barriers to women in top economic and policy positions.
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