Administrative Structure of FATA Regions

Publishing Date: Friday, April 25 2003

Description:

The administration in the Agencies is run by the Political Agents and in the special areas attached to the districts by the respective Deputy Commissioners. The Political Agent is the `Kingpin' around which revolves the entire Agency administration. He is accountable to the provincial governor who also acts as an Agent to the President for tribal areas. The Political Agent coordinates the functions of nation building departments in the Agency and controls the tribesmen through a system of tribal and territorial responsibility, which, of course, is the key stone of the arch of political administration. The Political Agent usually does not interfere in the affairs of the tribesmen and intervenes only when a grave situation arises. He exercises his benign influence in case of the outbreak of tribal hostilities. The success of a Political Agent largely depends upon his personal influence and ability to tackle a difficult situation. He is assisted in his work by a small band of officers, including Assistant Political Officers, Tehsildars and Naib Tehsildars.

The Agencies were set up by the British when the closed-door and Forward Policy did not achieve the desired objectives. The Khyber was created as a special Political Agency in 1878, Kurram in 1892 and Malakand, North and South Waziristan Agencies came into existence in 1895-96. Mohmand Agency was added to the existing strength of the Agencies in 1951 and two new Agencies, namely Bajaur and Orakzai were created in December 1973 with headquarters at Khar and Hangu respectively. The peculiar feature of the Agency administration is that tribesmen have been left to be governed by their customs and traditions. The British control too, was only confined to roads, military installations and places of strategic importance.

Agencies	Head Quarters	Tehsil Name	Administrative Controlling Authority
Bajaur	Khar	Barang Charmung Khar Mohmand Salarzai Utmanzai Nawagai	Political Agent
Khyber	Peshawar (Outside Agency)	Bara Jamrud Landi Kotal	Political Agent
Kurram	Parachinar	Parachinar Alizai	Political Agent
Mohmand	Ghallanay	Halimzai Pinchali Safi Upper Mohmand Utman Khel Yaka Ghund	Political Agent
North Waziristan	Miranshah	Datta Khel Dossali Garyam Ghulam Khel Mirali Miranshah Razmak Spin Wam	Political Agent
South Waziristan	Wana	Lodha Razmak (Chorli) Sara Rogha Sarweka Tiarza Wana	Political Agent
Orakzai	Kalaya	Central Orakzai Ismail Zai Upper Orakzai Lower Orakzai	Political Agent

Hierarchical Structure:

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