Muhammad Salim Khan holds a Masters in Political Science from the University of Peshawar. He joined the Pakistan Administrative Service in 1990. In 2000-02, he was assigned the charge of Bajaur and Kurram Agencies as a Political Agent. These responsibilities were followed by his posting as Project Director to manage the most challenging project in most difficult conditions- South FATA Development Project for Kurram, North Waziristan, and South Waziristan. During 2010-12 and 2018-19, he looked after different Administrative Departments including Planning and Development, Higher Education, Irrigation, Energy and Power, and ST&IT.  These assignments were caped with his elevation as Chief Secretary. As Team Leader for the implementation of the International Fund for Agriculture Development financed multi sectoral, poverty alleviation, and area development projects in Dir (1998-2000) and South Waziristan, North Waziristan, and Kurram (2002-05), he was able to tailor project interventions to address extreme poverty by harnessing local resources and gender mainstreaming in conservative areas.