Punjab has always been one of the most important regions in South Asia and has proved its mettle both in the battlefields and in also becoming the granary of the region. When the British annexed the Punjab in March 1849, the erstwhile kingdom was in deep disarray with a serious law and order problem. Very soon, an administrative set up for Home Affairs was established, first under the Board of Administration, which was subsequently shifted under the watchful eye of the Revenue Secretary who controlled most of the countryside. However with the expansion of local self-government in India after 1919, a separate Home Department was created in January 1921.
During the British period, fifteen ICS officers served as Home Secretary in the Punjab, with one, Sir Frederick Bourne rising to become the first Pakistani appointed Governor of East Bengal from 1947-50. Since the creation of Pakistan, 55 Home Secretaries have served in this position. Owning to the increased work, varied and newer challenges, and the need for long-term strategic planning, the post of Home Secretary was upgraded to Additional Chief Secretary (Home) in February, 2017.
