Its powers and structure are set out in the provisions of the 1973 Constitution, in which 32 districts[1] come under its authority and jurisdiction.

The government includes the cabinet, selected from members the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly, and the non-political civil staff within each department.

The Chief Minister, invariably the leader of a political party represented in the Assembly, selects members of the Cabinet.

The Chief Minister and Cabinet are thus responsible the functioning of government and are entitled to remain in office so long as it maintains the confidence of the elected Assembly.

Often an abbreviation of "KP" or "KPK" is used by unknowing journalists and media outlets, although these terms neither appears in the Constitution, any treaties or in legal cases to which it is a party.

In a District, the functions are devolved further to the Tehsil, Town and Union Council Governments.

Enumerated in Article 123(3), 130, 141 and 142 the Constitution of Pakistan, these include the powers to manage the purse of the province, to keep checks on the policies and practices of the government and to make laws.

In order to be elected as a representative, an individual must be at least 18 years of age and must be only a Pakistani citizen and his name appears on the electoral roll for any area in the Province.

The executive post in the provincial government is the Governor of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa although power is delegated to the Chief Minister, Cabinet members, and other officials.

Governor Methab Ahmed Khan Abbasi resigned on 10 Feb 2016, because the charge of governorship was keeping him away from political activities.

Fazal-ur-Rehman of JUI-F tried to grab the position for his own party but was unsuccessful and Prime Minister of Pakistan transferred the responsibility to his close associate Iqbal Zafar Jhagra on 4 March 2016.

The current Governor is Faisal Karim Kundi of Pakistan Peoples Party, who was appointed by Asif Ali Zardari.

The Governor may sign legislation passed by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly into law or may veto in the case of a bill other than a Money Bill preventing it from becoming law unless two-thirds of Provincial Assembly vote to override the veto.

The Chief Secretary is the administrative boss of the province as the CS heads the provincial bureaucracy.

The duties of the minister revolve around Agriculture conditions and concerns in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

[2] The duties of the minister revolve around Finance conditions and concerns in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

[8] The duties of the secretary revolve around human conditions and concerns in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

[2] The duties of the minister revolve around Local Government conditions and concerns in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The duties of the minister revolve around Minerals Development conditions and concerns in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

[9] The duties of the minister/Special Assistant/Adviser to Chief Minister revolve around Revenue & Estate conditions and concerns in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

[10] The duties of the minister revolve around Energy & Power conditions and concerns in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The duties of the minister revolve around Law conditions and concerns in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

KP government as per its claim kept the Commission away from any political pressure and for the first time in the history of Pakistan, a serving Minister Ziaullah Afridi was arrested for corruption and misuse of Authority by any Law forcing agency.

KP Ehtesab Cell claims of recovering as much as 2 billion rupees from the corrupt bureaucrats and politicians.