Following the 1978 Saur Revolution, Lakanwal became the chairman of the Peasants Cooperative Union. As of 1980-1981 he was an alternate member of the Central Committee of the People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan. He was a member of the Revolutionary Council of the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan and a Central Committee member of the National Fatherland Front. Lakanwal was named Minister of Agriculture and Land Reform by Babrak Karmal in 1982. On March 12, 1987, following Mohammad Najibullah's ascent to power, Lakanwal was removed from this post.LA Times. Afghanistan Ousts 2 Cabinet Ministers
