DG NEPSA Muhammad Zafar Iqbal Appointed Special Assistant on Energy

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has appointed Lieutenant General (Retired) Muhammad Zafar Iqbal as Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Energy, granting him the status of minister of state with immediate effect.

The appointment was announced through an official notification issued by the Prime Minister’s Office. According to the notification, the decision was made under Rule 4(6) of the Rules of Business, 1973.

The Cabinet Division has been directed to take the necessary administrative steps to implement the appointment. The decision adds a new development to the government’s arrangements for overseeing energy-related matters.

Muhammad Zafar Iqbal, identified in the supplied report as the Director General of NEPSA, will serve as a Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Energy. The minister-of-state status establishes his official standing within the government, as specified in the notification.

Special assistants are appointed to support the prime minister in specific policy areas and government responsibilities. Their roles can involve advising on priorities, coordinating with relevant departments and assisting with the implementation of government initiatives, depending on their assigned responsibilities.

The energy sector remains an important area of public policy in Pakistan. Issues involving electricity supply, energy costs, fuel availability, power-sector finances and the development of sustainable energy sources continue to influence households, businesses and the wider economy.

Government decisions concerning energy administration are therefore closely watched by industry stakeholders and consumers. Effective coordination among relevant ministries, departments and regulatory bodies is important for addressing challenges and advancing policy objectives.

However, the appointment notification, as described in the supplied report, does not specify a detailed portfolio of responsibilities or announce any new energy policy measures. Further official information would be needed to establish the precise scope of the special assistant’s duties and any immediate priorities.

The appointment takes effect immediately, while the Cabinet Division has been instructed to complete the required follow-up action. The notification provides the formal basis for the appointment under the relevant government rules.

The development is part of the federal government’s ongoing administrative arrangements and places Muhammad Zafar Iqbal in a new advisory role related to energy. Any subsequent announcements regarding his responsibilities, policy initiatives or coordination with energy institutions will provide further clarity on the role.

For now, the key details are the appointment of Lt Gen (Retd) Muhammad Zafar Iqbal as Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Energy, the grant of minister-of-state status and the direction to the Cabinet Division to take the necessary action.

Further details about his specific responsibilities and planned initiatives are expected to depend on official government communications.