Afghan Biographies

Barmak, Wais Ahmad Eng.


Name Barmak, Wais Ahmad Eng.
Ethnic backgr. Tajik
Date of birth 1972
Function/Grade Ex Minister
History and Biodata

Eng. Wais Ahmad Barmak,
Phone: 0093 - 79-90415331021)

2. Previous Functions of Wais Ahmad Barmak:
Field Assistant with ICRC 1993
Senior Programme Officer for ACBAR in Kabul (1996 to 1998),
Policy/Programme Officer with the Programme, Policy, and Planning Unit in UNAMA in Kabul (2002) and also worked as Programme Officer and Deputy Regional Coordination Officer for the United Nations Coordinator’s Office (UNCO) for Afghanistan in Kabul.
Executive Director of the National Solidarity Programme (NSP) executed by the MRRD (two years),
Senior Advisor to the Department of Disaster Management and Preparedness in Afghanistan (ANDMA),
Senior Advisor MRRD on Capacity Development and Programmes, September 2004,
Senior Advisor/Chief Coordinator of the National Rural Access Programme (NRAP) until October 2006,  puty Minister of Rural Rehabilitaion and Development, (20081200-20120304)
Nominated Minister of Rural Rehabilitation (20120215)
Minister of Rural Rehabilitation (20120305-20140930)
Acting Minister of Rural Rehabilitation (20141001)
Minister of Afghanistan National Disaster Management Authority (ANDMA) (20151021, 20170813)
Minister of Interior (20170813, 20171204 confirmed- 20181224)

3. Biodata:
Barmak_Wais_AhmadWais Ahmad Barmak was born 1972 in Kabul and hails from Panjshir. He completed primary and secondary education from Nadarya High School (1988), Kabul. Barmak obtained a BSc degree, with Honours in Architecture, from the Department of Architecture, Faculty of Engineering, Kabul University. He also is an MSc graduate (Development Studies) from the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) at the University of London, UK.

Barmak’s professional career started with MSFF and ICRC back in 1993. Later became Minister designate but did not bag enough votes of confidence in Wolesi Jirga on 20100106. He is supported by Vicepresident Fahim. Barmak got high marks for his management of the National Solidarity Program. Barmak holds a British Passport.

Had contributed in the Rural Development Sector of the Afghan National Development Strategy 2008-2013.

The Afghan parliament approved nine nominated minister in the 20120305 session. Wais Barmak getting 212 votes got the post of Rural Development Minister.

President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani’s advisor in north zone Wais Ahmad Barmakon Tuesday 30, Dec 2014 assured residents of this northeastern Badakhshan province that corrupt officials would be sacked and the unity government was adopting all measures to fight graft. Barmak traveled to Badakhshan as head of a 6-member delegation, told local officials that corruption had tarnished government’s image. He had been tasked to evaluate performance of officials and government agencies.(20141230)

Wais Ahmad Barmak received 173 confidence votes and was approved as minister of interior.(20171204)

Colonel Kabir Ahmad Barmak, the minister's younger brother, who has served as district police chief in PD5 and PD11 in Kabul, was promoted to deputy head of the interior ministry’s intelligence department on Sunday Jan 21, 2018.

The president accepted resignation of Hanif Atmar as national security adviser, but he rejected those of Defense Minister Tariq Shah Bahrami, Interior Minister Wais Ahmad Barmak and head of National Directorate of Security Masoom Stanikzai.(20180829)


He can speak Dari, Pashto and English.

Last Modified 2018-12-24
Established 2009-12-30