Srinagar, September 5: The Jammu and Kashmir Government has designated 25 JKAS officers as Liaison Officers to oversee coordination and facilitate the movement and engagements of VVIPs and other distinguished guests attending the first-ever International Film Festival of Jammu & Kashmir, scheduled from September 7 to 10, 2026.
The appointments were notified through Government Order No. 1483-JK(GAD) of 2026, issued on September 4, following a request from the Directorate of Information, J&K, seeking deployment of senior administrative officers for the high-profile event.
As per the government order, the appointed officers will be entrusted with the responsibility of coordinating with visiting dignitaries, facilitating their participation and ensuring smooth arrangements throughout the four-day festival.
All designated officers have been directed to report immediately to the Director, Information, J&K, Srinagar, for a detailed briefing regarding their respective assignments, duties and responsibilities.
Among the senior officers appointed as Liaison Officers are Khalid Jahangir, Commissioner, Food and Drug Administration, J&K; Mehmood Ahmad Shah, Managing Director, Kashmir Power Distribution Corporation Limited; Shiv Kumar Gupta, Controller, Legal Metrology, J&K; and Sudershan Kumar, Managing Director, J&K Trade Promotion Organization.
The government has also assigned the responsibility to Mohammad Shahid Saleem Dar, Managing Director, SIDCO/SICOP; Arun Kumar Manhas, Director, Industries and Commerce, Jammu; Mussarat-ul-Islam, Director, Handloom and Handicrafts, Kashmir; and Vikas Sharma, Special Secretary, Housing and Urban Development Department.
Other designated officers include Pawan Kumar Sharma, Director, Geology and Mining, J&K; Rajinder Kumar Sharma, Special Secretary, Skill Development Department; Shabir Hussain Bhat, Vice-Chairman, Srinagar Development Authority; and Kapil Sharma, Director, Urban Local Bodies, Jammu.
The list further comprises Pawan Kumar, Special Secretary, Labour and Employment Department; Rajinder Singh, Special Secretary, Disaster Management, Relief, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Department; Kuldeep Krishan Sidha, Director, Archives, Archaeology and Museums; and Ashish Kumar Gupta, Director, Disaster Management, J&K.
Among the other officers entrusted with VVIP coordination duties are Ashiq Hussain Lily, Regional Director, Survey and Land Records (ex-officio Settlement Officer), Srinagar; Parveez Ahmad Raina, Additional Commissioner, State Taxes (Administration & Enforcement), Kashmir; Rajnish Kumar, Chief Executive Officer, Integrated Watershed Management Programme; and Ghulam Jeelani Zargar, Director, Horticulture, Planning and Marketing, J&K.
The remaining officers appointed for the assignment are Shokat Mehmood, Special Secretary, Social Welfare Department; Dr Zahoor Ahmad Magray, Additional Commissioner in the office of Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir; Rakesh Kumar, Special Secretary, Estates Department; Masarat Hashim, Administrator, Associated Hospitals, Srinagar; and Mohammad Anwar Banday, Special Secretary, School Education Department.
The government has instructed all the designated Liaison Officers to report to the Director, Information, J&K, Srinagar, without delay and obtain necessary instructions and detailed briefings ahead of the festival.
The officers will remain assigned to the programme from September 7 through September 10, 2026, and will be responsible for facilitating coordination and arrangements related to visiting VVIPs and other dignitaries during the event.
The administrative order has been issued by M. Raju, IAS, Commissioner/Secretary to the Government, General Administration Department, under the applicable government provisions.
