MUZAFFARABAD: The Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) government has abolished seven secretary-level posts as part of administrative reforms aimed at reducing expenditures and improving efficiency. The decision, approved by the cabinet on December 17 last year, aligns with an agreement with the Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee calling for austerity measures.
Read More: AJK govt has implemented all points of JAAC deal, says minister
The abolished positions include the secretary of transport, population welfare, disaster management and civil defence, tourism and archaeology, religious affairs and auqaf, the ex-officio environmental protection agency, and information technology. Officials said the move is intended to streamline administration and reduce the financial burden on the government.
The Azad Kashmir government, implementing the agreement made with the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC), has abolished 7 posts of secretaries after dissolving the departments.
To read more visit: https://t.co/istv0nN7hp#AJK #Government #Abolish #Secretaries #JAAC… pic.twitter.com/G2eGxFjXZ8
— Kashmir Digital (@KashmirDigital1) January 13, 2026
During the tenure of former Prime Minister Sardar Tanveer Ilyas, several secretary-level posts were created even for departments with fewer than 100 regular budgeted employees. His successor, Chaudhry Anwarul Haq, elevated as many as 10 civil servants to secretary rank despite advocating austerity, contributing to a rise in administrative expenditure.
Currently, AJK has 26 officers holding secretary status, including those in the AJK Administrative Service, Law Department, Secretariat Group, as well as secretaries to the president, prime minister, and the Senior Member Board of Revenue. Of these, four officers have been declared “surplus secretaries,” while two are serving in positions not originally designated for secretaries.
The government said abolishing the seven posts would help rationalize the bureaucracy and reduce redundancy in administrative functions. The step is part of broader efforts to improve governance efficiency and align departmental structures with operational needs, particularly in smaller departments.
Read More: AJK suspends government payments for system upgrade
Officials emphasized that the reforms would not affect essential services and that the remaining secretaries would continue to oversee critical departments. The move has been welcomed by advocates of austerity and administrative reform, who have long criticized the proliferation of high-ranking posts in the AJK bureaucracy.