The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has transferred key administrative powers of the chief secretary to the additional chief secretary after differences between the Chief Minister Sohail Afridi and Chief Secretary Shahab Ali Shah reportedly intensified.

The Establishment Department issued a notification creating a special post of Additional Chief Secretary (Establishment and General Administration) and delegating to it the powers traditionally exercised by the chief secretary.

According to the notification, the additional chief secretary will have authority over postings and transfers from Grade 16 to 18, promotions from Grade 17 to 18, and the appointment of inquiry officers — powers previously vested in the chief secretary.

The job description further assigns financial and administrative matters to the additional chief secretary.

CM Afridi has appointed his principal secretary Abid Majeed, to the newly created post and formally notified the expanded mandate.

Officials said the move effectively places core administrative control with the additional chief secretary, marking a significant shift in the provincial bureaucracy’s command structure.

The development follows reports of growing differences between the chief minister and the chief secretary, though no official reason has been stated in the notification.