AJK Govt orders departments to use PM’s official name

ISLAMABAD: The Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) government has issued a formal directive requiring all government departments and offices to use the official name “Iftikhar Gillani” in correspondence and other official documents concerning the newly elected prime minister.

The order was issued by the Services and General Administration Department (S&GAD) on August 31, following the notification regarding the election and oath-taking of Prime Minister Iftikhar Gillani.

The directive seeks to bring uniformity to government records after different spellings of the prime minister’s name reportedly appeared in official communication.

Departments Told to Follow New Format

According to the circular, all concerned offices have been instructed to write the prime minister’s name as “افتخار گیلانی / Iftikhar Gillani” in future government correspondence and other written material.

The order carries reference number 2026/(59)1-SGA and was signed by the Additional Secretary (Establishment).

The department has circulated the directive among senior government officials and key institutions across AJK, including additional chief secretaries, the Senior Member Board of Revenue, secretaries of the AJK government, the Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister, commissioners, deputy commissioners and heads of departments.

The Registrar Offices of the AJK High Court and Supreme Court, Director General Information and Election Commission are also among the offices that have received the communication.

Why the Name Was Standardised

The move comes shortly after Iftikhar Gillani assumed office as prime minister of AJK. The government’s decision appears aimed at removing inconsistencies in the spelling of his name and ensuring that official files, correspondence and records follow a single format.

A senior government official described the directive as a routine administrative step, saying such instructions help maintain consistency in official documentation and protocol following a change in government.

“Name spelling is important in government records because it affects official correspondence, archives and protocol,” the official said.

Immediate Compliance Ordered

The S&GAD has directed all relevant departments and offices to ensure immediate compliance with the instruction.

The order is expected to standardise references to the prime minister across government letters, notifications, files and other official communications.

While the directive may appear to concern a minor administrative detail, consistent identification of public officeholders is important for government record-keeping and institutional communication.

The order also highlights how even a change in the spelling of a political leader’s name can require a formal administrative directive when it affects official documents across a government system.

For now, departments across AJK have been instructed to follow the specified spelling in all future official correspondence, bringing an end to the reported variation in how the prime minister’s name was being recorded.