ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has appointed a BPS-21 officer as chairman of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA).

The post was vacant since April 13 when Lt-Gen (retd) Nadeem Ahmad resigned.

According to sources, Dr Zafar Iqbal Qadir, a district management group officer who was working as additional secretary in the petroleum ministry, has been appointed chief of the NDMA.

The sources said the decision had surprised bureaucrats because many federal secretaries would have happily accepted the post.

Unlike a routine civil service posting, Dr Qadir will head a countrywide organisation and regularly interact with international agencies working on disaster management.

The NDMA chairman needs to perform specific actions at the time of man-made and natural disasters which require special training.

Though a well-read civil servant, Dr Qadir has been more into commerce and agriculture departments, a career profile which does not make him an ideal selection for his new post.

A PhD in development studies from the TCU, Louisiana, USA, Dr Qadir has served as the commissioner of Naseerabad, director general and additional secretary in the president's secretariat, joint secretary in the commerce ministry, Pakistan's economic minister and deputy permanent representative at the World Trade Organisation, secretary of agriculture and cooperatives and additional secretary of health in Balochistan.

Under the NDMA Act, besides performing an overseeing role the authority provides technical help to all federal and provincial government departments involved in disaster management.

It has to put in place guidelines for various government divisions, preparing them to deal with disasters such as floods, earthquakes and epidemics.

However, its main role revolves around coordination in responses to events of threatening nature anywhere in the country.

An NDMA official said people working at the authority were expecting a serving or retired military officer as their head. The involvement of law-enforcement agencies, including the security establishment, is key part of response to any disaster.

Lt-Gen (retd) Ahmad had served as the deputy chairman of Erra as a military officer and had been appointed NDMA chief on his retirement.