A protester waves Kashmire flag as they march during a demonstration against India, in Karachi on February 4, 2020. - Pakistan will observe Kashmir Solidarity Day on February 5, to express solidarity with their fellow Kashmiri's living in Indian administered Kashmir. (Photo by Rizwan TABASSUM / AFP)
Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) has made history by appointing Mahnaz Faheem as its first woman chief economist in the Planning and Development Department. Her promotion from BS-19 to BS-20 was approved by the Selection Board-I, chaired by the chief secretary, in December 2025.
Mahnaz Faheem has been a part of the AJK civil service since 1997, starting her career as a planning officer after earning an MBA from Quaid-e-Azam University, Islamabad. She further enhanced her expertise with a master’s degree in gender and development from the University of Sussex, becoming one of the first two Chevening scholars from AJK.
She also earned a gold medal in BSc with double mathematics and physics from the University of Azad Jammu and Kashmir. Her contributions include work on UNDP-funded projects following the 2005 AJK earthquake, highlighting her commitment to evidence-based and socially impactful economic planning.
In her statement, Mahnaz Faheem expressed gratitude for the trust placed in her, emphasizing that women’s representation in senior policy making roles is essential for balanced development. She pledged to focus on gender-sensitive, fair, and result-oriented economic planning.
This appointment is a significant milestone for Azad Kashmir, signaling progressive steps toward gender inclusivity in government leadership positions.