On February 9^th, 2026, Mr. Afrasiab Khattak addressed the participants of 39^th SMC on “Socio-Cultural Diversities within Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and their impact on Public Service Management”. Mr. Khattak is a former Senator of Pakistan and current Chair of the Policy and Research Committee of the National Democratic movement. He has also served as provincial President of Awami National Party; and has been a political and human rights activist for decades twice elected as Chairperson of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan. He was also awarded the Nishan-e-Imtiaz by Government of Pakistan.

Mr. Afrasiab Khattak, delivered an impactful lecture focusing on socio-cultural diversities with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and how they are shaping the dynamics of the province today. He gave historical insight into the unique culture of this region and the importance of Pakhtunwali, the code by which the Pushtun people live their lives. He spoke about the geostrategic importance of these territories especially erstwhile FATA, since the time of Alexander the Great, Babur. Taimur, up until the time of British in India, and later the Russian attempts to influence the region. He also vociferously iterated that even after a lapse of centuries the sense of independence of the people of this region stands intact.

Mr. Afrasiab Khattak concluded the session by encouraging the participants to take into account the peculiarities of the region when it comes to service delivery, and be cognizant of the cultural mores and values of the people they are serving.