Key education officials enjoy lucrative posts on deputation

By Khalid Khattak

LAHORE: The award of extension in deputation period seems to be hallmark of the previous government as it allowed many individuals, especially in the education boards of the province, to continue enjoying postings on lucrative posts for many years through extension in the deputation tenure.Most of the officials had been awarded extension in the deputation period more than once, making others realise as if there were no substitutes available to hold key-offices such as of Chairman, Secretary and Controller of Examinations of the boards. However, it is generally believed that only individuals having connections with the power corridors were appointed against such well-paid posts.Talking to The News, a senior official of the Higher Education Department, Punjab, on the condition of anonymity said postings during the previous regime against such slots was made “purely” on political grounds, adding in most of the cases those who had been granted extension in deputation period were not even recommended by the department. He further said, as per the deputation policy, initially an official was appointed on deputation for a period of three years, adding one year extension was granted through the Finance Department. “The grant of any further extension is prerogative of the Chief Minister”, the official added.He maintained that the policy of extending deputation tenure was blindly followed by the previous government, adding despite the fact it created troubles for those awaiting promotions. The official said the extension-policy was widely condemned by the other aspirant candidates but of no avail. According to the data obtained by The News, the officials who were granted extension in the deputation tenure more than once include Secretary Board of Intermediate & Secondary Education (BISE) Lahore Haji Muhammad Dogar who has been holding the office since July 28, 2003. His deputation tenure had expired after three years. Later, he was awarded one year extension while he also succeeded to “win” another extension of next two years. Similarly, BISE Lahore’s Controller of Examinations Prof Manzur ul Hassan Niazi, who was awarded extension in deputation, has been holding the office since October 28, 2004.Board of Intermediate & Secondary Education Bahawalpur chairperson Mrs Bilqees Akram has been serving since January 19, 2004, while board’s Secretary Waheed Akhtar Nayyar and Controller of Examinations Bashir Ahmed have been enjoying lucrative posts since October 19, 2002 and September 25, 2004 respectively. Chairman of the BISE Dera Ghazi Khan Mehr Bashir Ahmed has been serving on deputation since September 3, 2004.It is important to mention here that the new government has not awarded any extension to the Chairman Board of Intermediate & Secondary Education Sargodha Dr Muhammad Afzal Rabbani whose deputation period expired on June 28, 2008. The department has recently interviewed a number of potential candidates to fill the vacant post. However, no appointment has been made so far. The senior officials of the boards whose tenure would expire in the near future include Secretary Board of Intermediate & Secondary Education Bahawalpur (date of expiry of deputation September 30, 2008), Secretary Board of Intermediate & Secondary Education Dera Ghazi Khan Aezaz Ahmed Khan (December 04, 2008) and Chairman BISE Faisalabad Anwar ul Haq (February 12, 2009). It is further learnt that the government has decided in principle not to extend tenure of those serving on deputation. A couple of months ago, the Punjab government cancelled hundreds of appointments made on the re-employment policy. The policy was also excessively followed by the previous regime through which hundreds of retired officials were re-employed against well-paid posts.

Source: The News International
Wednesday, July 16, 2008.