Job Category: Federal Govt. Jobs

Job Type: Project Jobs

Job Location: Islamabad

National Agri-Trade & Food Safety Authority (NAFSA) Pakistan Jobs 2026

LEADERSHIP CAREER OPPORTUNITY

Our Client, The National Agri-Trade and Food Safety Authority (NAFSA) Pakistan, is a federal regulatory authority established under the NAFSA Act 2026. It is headquartered in Islamabad with operational presence across Pakistan. We are pleased to invite applications on behalf of our client for the position of:

DIRECTOR GENERAL

Pakistan’s First Integrated Agri-Trade & Food Safety Regulator

Fixed-Term Contract
NPS-7 (Highest Grade)
NAFSA Headquarters, Islamabad

ABOUT NAFSA

The National Agri-Trade and Food Safety Authority (NAFSA) is Pakistan’s landmark institutional reform, established under the NAFSA Act 2026. For the first time, Pakistan has consolidated its fragmented agri-trade and sanitary-phytosanitary (SPS) regulatory regime under a single, autonomous, and professionally governed authority — replacing the legacy functions of the Department of Plant Protection (DPP) and the Animal Quarantine Department (AQD).

NAFSA is mandated to govern the import and export of agricultural commodities, regulate SPS compliance, manage pesticide registration, oversee food safety standards, and negotiate international market access — all through an evidence-based, digitally-enabled framework aligned with WTO, Codex Alimentarius, WOAH, and IPPC standards. The Authority is headquartered in Islamabad, with operational presence across Pakistan.

WHAT IS ALREADY IN PLACE

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

Organisational Design: 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: Approved Total Rewards Framework (TRF) establishing market-aligned NAFSA Pay Scales (NPS), allowances, medical and life insurance, and a performance-linked incentive structure.
Headquarters: Fully furnished Headquarters office at G-9/4, Islamabad, operationally ready for the Authority’s 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.
Support: SLA executed with Pakistan Single Window for procurement support as well as technology and HR enablement (recruitment of 122 top positions underway) – international donors and experts engaged for regulatory review.

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 operationalisation: 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 NAFSA’s 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 NAFSA’s 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 Pakistan’s 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 GoP’s agricultural export targets.
SPS Compliance Upgrade: Operationalise 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 Pakistan’s export reputation.
Provincial Harmonisation: Coordinate harmonisation of SPS standards across provinces, reducing inter-regional trade barriers for domestic agri-supply chains.

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:

Component	Monthly (PKR) / Details	Notes
Gross Fixed Salary	Up to PKR 2,555,338	Band: PKR 1,935,862 – 2,555,338
Basic Pay (67% of Gross)	Up to PKR 1,712,076	Basis for performance bonus calculations
House Rent Allowance (33%)	Up to PKR 843,262	Included in Gross Fixed Salary
Employer CBS Contribution	8.33% of Basic Pay	Defined contribution (pension-equivalent)
Mobile Allowance	PKR 10,000/month
Fuel Allowance	350 litres/month	Or equivalent fuel card
Festive Allowance	1 × Gross Salary	Annual; payable after 1 year of service
Performance Bonus	Up to 3 × Gross Salary	Subject to exceeding KPI targets
Medical Coverage	PKR 1,200,000/year	Plus PKR 150,000 OPD limit
Life Insurance (Natural Death)	PKR 7,000,000	Institutional policy
Life Insurance (Accidental)	PKR 14,000,000	Institutional policy

Note: Salary placement within the NPS-7 band (PKR 1,935,862 – 2,555,338/month) is determined on the basis of qualifications, experience, and market alignment.

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

Master’s 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 Pakistan’s 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).

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

Interested candidates may apply online by scanning the QR code. The detailed job description, along with all required qualifications and experience criteria, is accessible through the online portal.

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.

HR Department | Tel: 051-9245587