Establishment Division nominates 29 senior officers for mandatory National Security and War Course

The Establishment Division has nominated 29 senior government officers from federal and provincial services, key public institutions and diplomatic missions for the National Security and War Course (NSWC-27), a mandatory training programme for promotion from Grade 20 to Grade 21.

According to details issued by the Establishment Division and available with 24NewsHD, the course will be conducted at the National Defence University (NDU), Islamabad, from August 10, 2026, to January 3, 2027.

The National Security and War Course is considered one of the country's most prestigious mid-career training programmes and is a prerequisite for senior civil servants seeking promotion to Grade 21.

Among the officers selected from the Pakistan Administrative Service are Commissioner Lahore Division Maryam Khan, Principal Secretary to the Sindh Chief Minister Muhammad Fayyaz Ahmed Jatoi, Secretary Mines and Minerals Sindh Raja Shah Zaman Khuhro, Secretary Inter-Provincial Coordination Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq, Secretary Services and General Administration Department Balochistan Syed Faisal Ahmed, and Secretary Works and Services Sindh Muhammad Nawaz Sahu.

From the Police Service of Pakistan and law enforcement agencies, the selected officers include Director FIA Headquarters Islamabad Sikandar Hayat, DIG North Zone National Highways and Motorway Police Afzal Ahmed Kausar, DIG South Pakistan Railways Police Lahore Munir Ahmed Sheikh, DIG Security and Emergency Services Division Karachi Lt. (retd) Maqsood Ahmed, and DIG N-5 North National Highways and Motorway Police Inam-ur-Rehman Malik.

The Secretariat Group nominees include Joint Secretary Finance Division (Military Wing) Allah Dad and Joint Secretary Prime Minister's Office Imran Yousuf.

From the Foreign Service of Pakistan, the selected officers are Pakistan's Ambassador to Tashkent Ahmed Farooq, Public Relations Officer Geneva Dr. Bilal Ahmed, Ambassador to Buenos Aires Hassan Afzal Khan, and Ambassador to Yangon Tariq Karim.

Other officers nominated for the course include Deputy Director General Ministry of Defence Muhammad Arifin, Director Inland Revenue Service Directorate of Law Lahore Muhammad Asim Haleem, Chief Collector Customs (Enforcement) Islamabad Basit Maqsood Abbasi, and FBR Headquarters officer Ayesha Niaz.

The Establishment Division has also selected Economic Adviser at the Embassy of Pakistan in China Muhammad Aslam Chaudhry and Nafees Rahim, who is awaiting appointment, from the Pakistan Audit and Accounts Service.

Among the remaining nominees are Director General Information Services Academy Islamabad Ambreen Gul Shahid, Chief Planning Ministry of Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Irfan Khan, Joint Secretary Commerce Division Maria Qazi, Director General Federal Public Service Commission Syed Ahmed Babar Zaidi, Commissioner Inland Revenue Gilgit-Baltistan Council Sudhir Khan Khattak, and Director NAB Headquarters Islamabad Shakeel Anjum.

According to the Establishment Division, all nominated officers have been directed to submit their availability certificates by June 19, 2026.

The officers have also been instructed to report to the National Defence University at 10 a.m. on August 8, 2026, ahead of the formal commencement of the course.

The division said the participation fee for the National Security and War Course has been fixed at Rs2,169,462 per officer, which will be borne either by the Establishment Division or the officer's parent department or institution.

The notification further stated that strict compliance with all instructions and regulations governing the course would be mandatory and warned that departmental action could be initiated in cases of violation of the prescribed rules.

The National Security and War Course brings together senior civil servants, diplomats, law enforcement officers and officials from key national institutions to study national security, governance, strategic affairs and public policy, and is regarded as a key requirement for advancement to the highest levels of the civil service.