Naveed Akram Cheema Wikipedia, Biography, Age Profile, Career, Net Worth, Current Role, Wife, Family

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Naveed Akram Cheema is a prominent Pakistani retired civil servant and sports administrator who has held some of the most critical administrative offices in the country’s bureaucracy. A career officer of the Pakistan Administrative Service (formerly known as the District Management Group), he rose to the highest pay scale (BPS-22) and is best known for his tenures as the Chief Secretary of Punjab and the Chairman of the Federal Public Service Commission (FPSC).

During his career in the civil service, Cheema served as the Chief Secretary of Punjab from October 2013 to January 2015. In this role, he was the administrative boss of the province, overseeing all provincial secretaries and divisional commissioners, and acting as the chief advisor to the Chief Minister of Punjab. Following his retirement from the civil service, he was appointed as the Chairman of the Federal Public Service Commission (FPSC), a constitutional body responsible for recruiting bureaucrats for the Government of Pakistan. He served in this capacity until 2017, overseeing the competitive Central Superior Services (CSS) examinations and ensuring merit-based recruitment.

Beyond his bureaucratic career, Cheema is deeply involved in cricket administration. He has served multiple terms as the team manager for the Pakistan National Cricket Team. He famously managed the team during the 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup, where he was credited with enforcing strict discipline within the squad. He returned to the role in subsequent years, including a reappointment in 2024, tasked with bringing administrative order to the team’s dressing room during international tours.

Occasionally, his name has surfaced for interim government roles due to his neutral bureaucratic background. For instance, in early 2023, he was considered for the position of caretaker Chief Minister of Punjab, a role often given to non-controversial retired technocrats or bureaucrats to oversee elections. However, his primary legacy remains his dual contribution to Pakistan’s top-tier civil administration and the management of its national cricket team.

Quick Facts

Feature	Details
Full Name	Naveed Akram Cheema
Nationality	Pakistani
Profession	Retired Civil Servant (BPS-22), Sports Administrator
Known For	Chief Secretary Punjab, Chairman FPSC, Manager Pakistan Cricket Team
Civil Service Batch	Pakistan Administrative Service (PAS)
Key Tenure (Punjab)	Chief Secretary (Oct 2013 – Jan 2015)
Key Tenure (Federal)	Chairman FPSC (Sept 2015 – 2017)
Cricket Role	Team Manager (Multiple tenures, latest 2024)
Religion	Islam
Marital Status	Married
Net Worth	Not Publicly Disclosed

Early Life and Education

While specific details regarding Naveed Akram Cheema’s exact date of birth and early childhood are not publicly documented, his career trajectory suggests he was born in the mid-1950s. He hails from a respectable family in Punjab, Pakistan. As a career bureaucrat, he followed the rigorous academic path required to enter the Central Superior Services (CSS) of Pakistan.

Educational Background

Cheema is believed to have completed his higher education at one of Pakistan’s premier universities before appearing for the competitive CSS examination. Passing this exam allowed him to join the District Management Group (DMG), now known as the Pakistan Administrative Service (PAS), which is considered the premier cadre of the civil service.

Career in Civil Service

Naveed Akram Cheema’s career is a testament to his administrative acumen. Over decades of service, he held various field and secretariat assignments, eventually reaching the highest pay scale in the government (Grade 22).

Chief Secretary of Punjab (2013–2015)

One of the most significant chapters in Cheema’s career was his appointment as the Chief Secretary of Punjab in October 2013.

Role & Power: As Chief Secretary, he was the administrative boss of the province, overseeing all provincial secretaries and divisional commissioners.
Responsibilities: He acted as the principal advisor to the Chief Minister of Punjab, playing a pivotal role in policy formulation and the execution of development projects in the province.
Tenure: He served in this capacity until his retirement from the civil service in January 2015. His tenure was marked by a focus on bureaucratic discipline and efficient governance.

Chairman of the Federal Public Service Commission (FPSC)

Following his retirement, the Government of Pakistan appointed him as the Chairman of the FPSC in September 2015.

Mandate: The FPSC is a constitutional body responsible for the recruitment of bureaucrats for the federal government.
Reforms: During his tenure (2015–2017), Cheema was responsible for overseeing the Central Superior Services (CSS) examinations. He is credited with maintaining the integrity of the selection process and ensuring merit-based recruitment for Pakistan’s future administrative leaders.

Consideration for Caretaker Roles

Due to his reputation as a neutral and seasoned administrator, Cheema’s name has surfaced for interim government roles. In January 2023, he was a strong contender for the position of Caretaker Chief Minister of Punjab, a role tasked with overseeing free and fair elections, further validating his standing as a non-controversial state figure.

Career in Cricket Administration

Naveed Akram Cheema’s involvement with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is extensive. He is often the board’s “go-to” man when the national team requires strict administrative oversight.

The “Strict Disciplinarian” Manager

Cheema first gained prominence in cricket circles during his tenures as team manager in the early 2010s.

2015 World Cup: He managed the team during the high-pressure 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup. During this time, he was credited with enforcing curfews, managing player conduct, and ensuring that external distractions did not affect on-field performance.
Philosophy: Cheema has described his management style as “fatherly,” aiming to resolve players’ personal issues while maintaining a zero-tolerance policy for indiscipline.

Return to PCB (2023–2024)

Cheema returned to the PCB management setup for the tours of Australia and New Zealand (Dec 2023 – Jan 2024). Although briefly replaced, the board turned to him again later in the year.

Reappointment in August 2024

In August 2024, following Pakistan’s disappointing performance in the T20 World Cup, the PCB removed Wahab Riaz and reappointed Naveed Akram Cheema as the Team Manager for the Test series against Bangladesh.

Objective: His specific mandate was to restore discipline in the dressing room.
Significance: This appointment highlighted the board’s trust in his ability to handle player power and enforce a professional culture within the squad.

Personal Life

Family and Wife

Naveed Akram Cheema maintains a very low profile regarding his private life. Details about his wife and children are not publicly disclosed in media reports or official biographies. This privacy is typical for high-ranking intelligence and administrative officials in Pakistan who wish to keep their families out of the public eye.

Personality and Reputation

Colleagues and subordinates often describe Cheema as a “man of few words” but a “strict enforcer of rules.” In the civil service, he was known for his uprightness and refusal to bow to political pressure in administrative matters. In the cricket world, he is respected as an elder figure who commands authority without needing to raise his voice.

Net Worth

As a career civil servant, Naveed Akram Cheema’s income was governed by the official Basic Pay Scales (BPS) of the Government of Pakistan. While Grade 22 officers receive influential perks, housing, and transport, their official salary is modest compared to the corporate sector.

Estimated Status: While his exact net worth is not publicly disclosed, he is considered to be financially comfortable, living a dignified retired life supported by his pension and subsequent high-profile government appointments (such as the FPSC Chairmanship).

Conclusion

Naveed Akram Cheema serves as a prime example of a technocrat who has successfully bridged the gap between civil administration and sports management. From running the bureaucracy of Punjab to managing the egos of cricket superstars, his career has been defined by responsibility, discipline, and authority. Whether as the Chief Secretary ensuring provincial stability or as the Pakistan Team Manager ensuring dressing room harmony, Cheema remains a respected figure in Pakistan’s administrative history. His return to cricket management in 2024 proves that his skills in leadership and discipline remain in high demand.

FAQs

Who is Naveed Akram Cheema?

Naveed Akram Cheema is a retired Pakistani civil servant (BPS-22) who served as Chief Secretary Punjab, Chairman FPSC, and Manager of the Pakistan Cricket Team.

What is Naveed Akram Cheema’s current role?

As of August 2024, he was reappointed as the Team Manager of the Pakistan National Cricket Team for the series against Bangladesh.

When did he serve as Chief Secretary Punjab?

He served as the Chief Secretary of Punjab from October 2013 to January 2015.

What was his role in the FPSC?

He served as the Chairman of the Federal Public Service Commission (FPSC) from 2015 to 2017, overseeing the recruitment of civil servants.

Why is he called a “strict disciplinarian”?

He is known for enforcing strict rules, curfews, and codes of conduct, both in the civil service and within the Pakistan cricket team dressing room.

Is Naveed Akram Cheema a cricketer?

No, he is not a professional cricketer. He is an administrator who manages the team’s logistics, discipline, and player affairs.

What is Naveed Akram Cheema’s age?

While his exact birth date is not public, he retired from the civil service in 2015 (typically at age 60), placing his birth year around the mid-1950s.