Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has approved the appointment of Major General (retd) Zafar Iqbal as Director General of the National Explosives and Petroleum Safety Agency (NEPSA).

The Establishment Division said in a notification that Zafar Iqbal will head the agency in MP-1 pay scale under the Petroleum Division of the Ministry of Energy.

His appointment will be on a contractual basis for three years, with the tenure beginning from the date he assumes charge.

The appointment has been made under the terms and conditions set out in the MP Scale Policy 2020.

NEPSA falls under the Petroleum Division and deals with regulatory and safety matters related to explosives and petroleum activities.

The appointment comes as the government continues efforts to strengthen oversight and safety standards in sectors involving petroleum products and explosive materials.