Director General | NAFSA

This position is being recruited by Pakistan Single Window (PSW) on behalf of the National Agri-Trade and Food Safety Authority (NAFSA). NAFSA is being established as a strategic national initiative to strengthen Pakistans agri-trade ecosystem through enhanced regulatory oversight facilitation and modernization of food safety and trade processes. The selected candidate will be part of NAFSAs foundational team contributing to the development of systems processes and institutional capabilities.

The Director General is the chief executive of NAFSA appointed under the NAFSA Act responsible for establishing and leading the Authority while overseeing smooth transition from legacy departments including Department of Plant Protection and Animal Quarantine Department. Reporting to the Board of Governors of NAFSA the Director General is required to provide strategic direction and effective governance for optimal service delivery as per statutory mandate of NAFSA.

What Is Already in Place

NAFSA is not starting from a blank slate. Significant groundwork has been completed prior to the DGs appointment:

• Organizational Design: Board-approved structure covering three functional wings Scientific Advisory & Policy (SAPW) Operations (OW) and Corporate Services (CSW) with over 300 defined positions and detailed job description in place.
• Compensation Framework: Board-approved Total Rewards Framework (TRF) establishing NAFSA Pay Scales (NPS) allowances medical and life insurance and a performance-linked incentive structure.
• Headquarters: Fully furnished office at G-9/4 Islamabad operationally ready for the Authoritys leadership and core teams.
• Financial Foundation: Initial funds allocation and early-stage procurements underway providing working capital and operational continuity from day one.
• Revenue Model: A self-sustaining cost-recovery model enabled under Section 31 of the NAFSA Act 2026 through the NAFSA Fund ensuring long-term financial independence from Government budgetary allocations.

The Role: Director General

The Director General is the Chief Executive of NAFSA and serves as Secretary to the Board of Governors. With foundational elements already in place the incoming DG steps into a structured operationally-seeded authority the focus is on leading delivery and building institutional momentum.

Strategic Mandate

• Drive the next phase of NAFSA operationalization: merit-based recruitment of wing and divisional leadership establishment of regulatory systems and SOPs and commencement of statutory functions under the NAFSA Act 2026.
• Lead the orderly transition of assets operations and personnel from DPP and AQD into NAFSAs unified structure with minimal disruption to existing trade flows.
• Provide strategic leadership to three Deputy Directors General heading SAPW OW and CSW and ensure effective coordination across NAFSAs formations.
• Serve as the institutional face of NAFSA in national and international forums and as ex-officio Secretary to the Board of Governors.

Role in Pakistans Agri-Sector Growth

• Market Access Expansion: Lead negotiations and international coordination to open new export markets for Pakistani agri-commodities including fruits vegetables rice meat and dairy directly supporting GoPs agricultural export targets.
• SPS Compliance Upgrade: Operationalize a credible SPS regime meeting international buyer requirements enabling Pakistani exporters to access premium markets in the EU GCC China and beyond.
• Pesticide & Input Regulation: Streamline pesticide registration and agrochemical standards to improve farm productivity while ensuring food safety and international MRL compliance.
• Digital Transformation: Drive adoption of technology in inspection certification track-and-trace and surveillance systems to reduce discretion and transaction costs for trade.
• Crisis Management Leadership: Develop national crisis management capacity for SPS incidents pest incursions contamination events disease outbreaks protecting Pakistans export reputation.
  

Provincial Harmonization: Coordinate harmonization of SPS standards across provinces reducing inter-regional trade barriers for domestic agri-supply chains.

Main Responsibilities

• Timely establishment of NAFSA on modern lines with required systems policies SOPs staffing to ensure effective service delivery as per assigned legal mandate under NAFSA Act 2026.
• Oversee timely transition of assets operations and systems from legacy departments including DPP and AQD with minimal risk of business disruption or non-compliances.
• Provide strategic leadership and act as the chief executive officer of the Authority.
• Serve as ex-officio member and secretary to the Board of Governors while providing support in implementation of Boards decisions.
• Develop and execute NAFSAs strategic plan and annual work plans.
• Performance reporting to the Board and Federal Government setting-up KPIs and robust performance appraisal mechanism.
• Establish an appropriate service structure and lead merit-based recruitment of key leadership and technical staff.
• Oversee establishment of various formations of NAFSA with clear responsibilities and development of their operational processes to optimally deliver assigned functions.
• Develop effective coordination and collaboration mechanism between different formations of NAFSA
• Ensure capacity building and workforce readiness for operations and support functions.
• Development of needed corporate culture and mechanisms to attract and retain best in class human resource and ensure their optimal utilization
• Approve internal policies SOPs delegations and control frameworks consistent with the Act and Board directions.
• Promote integrity transparency and accountable decision-making.
• Provide stewardship of the NAFSA Fund and budget processes ensuring financial sustainability and effective oversight of the Finance and corporate controls.
• Ensure audit and accountability arrangements including facilitation of internal and external audits including those by the Auditor General of Pakistan ensure timely corrective actions and closure of observations.
• Represent NAFSA in national and international forums; coordinate with federal and provincial governments regulators Customs and development partners to advance SPS compliances food safety and trade facilitation objectives especially enhancing and sustaining Pakistans market access for enhanced exports of agri-products.
• Lead risk management and emergency response for SPS incidents (outbreaks contamination pest incursions) including crisis coordination and stakeholder communication.
• Adoption of technology and digitalization to minimize human interface and discretion in day to day operations.
• Effective management of various services providers and related service level agreements.
• Delegate powers and functions to authorized officers as appropriate and ensure effective oversight of delegated authorities consistent with the Act and prescribed conditions.

Who Can Apply

NAFSA invites applications from qualified Pakistani nationals ready to lead a nationally important regulatory institution and take it to its full mandate.

Educational Qualification

• Masters degree (minimum 16 years of education) in Management Sciences Agronomy Food Safety Veterinary Sciences Plant Protection Public Health Trade/Economics or a related field from a reputable institution.

Professional Experience

• Minimum 15 years of relevant professional experience with at least 5 years in an executive leadership role in a regulator autonomous body large public sector organization or comparable institution.
• Demonstrated track record of leading institutional reforms establishing organizations or large programmes and managing multi-disciplinary geographically distributed teams.
• Experience in public finance and governance: budgeting fund management audit oversight and implementation of internal controls.
• Substantive understanding of SPS systems and international standards (WTO SPS Codex WOAH IPPC) and their application to import/export controls and domestic regulation.
• Strong stakeholder engagement and diplomacy skills including coordination with federal/provincial governments and engagement with the private sector and international development partners.

Desirable Attributes

• Experience driving digital transformation and data-driven management in a regulatory or public sector context.
• Familiarity with Pakistans agri-trade ecosystem SPS regulatory landscape and legacy structures of DPP and AQD.
• Track record of integration with national systems (Single Window customs laboratory networks).

Compensation & Benefits

The Director General position carries NPS-7 the highest tier in the NAFSA Pay Scales framework designed to attract executive talent from regulators SOEs and the private sector:

• Gross Fixed Salary:
  Up to PKRper month (Band: PKR)
• Basic Pay (67% of Gross):
  Up to PKR(Used as the basis for performance bonus calculations)
• House Rent Allowance (33%):
  Up to PKR 843262 (Included within Gross Fixed Salary)
• Employer CBS Contribution:
  8.33% of Basic Pay (Defined contribution pension equivalent)
• Mobile Allowance:
  PKR 10000 per month
• Fuel Allowance:
  350 litres per month (or equivalent fuel card)
• Festive Allowance:
  One months Gross Salary (paid annually after completion of 1 year of service)
• Performance Bonus:
  Up to 3 Gross Salary (subject to exceeding KPI targets)
• Medical Coverage:
  PKRper year & PKR 150000 OPD limit
• Life Insurance (Natural Death):
  PKR(Institutional policy)
• Life Insurance (Accidental):
  PKR (Institutional policy)
  

Note: Salary placement within the NPS-7 band (PKR/month) is determined on the basis of qualifications experience and market alignment.

Employment Terms

• Employment Type

Fixed-Term Contract 3 years renewable for one further term of 3 years

• Location

NAFSA Headquarters Islamabad

• Reporting To

Board of Governors NAFSA (through the Chairperson)

• Selection Process

Open merit-based competitive process

• Application Deadline

15 days from the date of advertisement

How to Apply

• We are an equal opportunity employer.
• Female candidates are encouraged to apply.
• Persons with special needs are persuaded to apply.
• No TA/DA will be admissible.
• Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
• All candidates are treated strictly on merit.
• NAFSA/PSW reserves the right to accept or reject any application or to cancel the recruitment process at any stage.
• Recruitment will be subject to applicable directives and guidelines of the Federal Government.

For contact kindly reach out to

Required Experience:

Director