Each of Pakistan’s four provinces has a governor — the president’s representative in the province and the formal head of the provincial government. Here are the current office-holders as of October 2026, what they do, and how they get the job.
Quick answer: Pakistan’s current provincial governors are: Punjab — Sardar Saleem Haider, Sindh — Kamran Tessori, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa — Faisal Karim Kundi, Balochistan — Jaffar Khan Mandokhail (as of October 2026). Governors are appointed by the president on the prime minister’s advice.
In this guide
The Four Governors
| Province | Governor | Background |
|---|---|---|
| Punjab | Sardar Saleem Haider | PPP nominee; in office since May 2024 |
| Sindh | Kamran Tessori | MQM-P nominee; in office since October 2022 |
| Khyber Pakhtunkhwa | Faisal Karim Kundi | PPP nominee; in office since May 2024 |
| Balochistan | Jaffar Khan Mandokhail | PML-N nominee; in office since May 2024 |
Governors serve at the president’s pleasure — in practice, they change when the federal government changes. For the elected heads of provinces, see chief ministers of all provinces.
What a Governor Does
The governor is the ceremonial head of the province: assenting to provincial bills, summoning and proroguing the provincial assembly, administering oaths to the chief minister and cabinet, and — in rare constitutional crises — asking the chief minister to seek a vote of confidence. Day-to-day executive power belongs to the chief minister. The governor also serves as the channel between the province and the federation, and as chancellor of public universities in the province.
Where Governors Live and Work
Each governor has an official residence — the Governor’s House — in the provincial capital: Lahore, Karachi, Peshawar and Quetta. These colonial-era buildings host oath-takings, official receptions and the governor’s secretariat. In recent years, parts of some Governor’s Houses (notably in Lahore and Karachi) have been opened to the public on weekends, turning symbols of power into public spaces. The governor’s principal secretary runs the office day to day.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who appoints the governors of Pakistan?
The President of Pakistan appoints each provincial governor on the advice of the prime minister (Article 101 of the Constitution). They hold office during the president’s pleasure — there is no fixed term.
Governor vs chief minister: what’s the difference?
The governor is the appointed, ceremonial head of the province; the chief minister is the elected head of government who actually runs the province. Think president vs prime minister, at provincial scale.
