Fears of mismanagement surface amid reshuffles
Officials question what will happen in case of quake as PDMA sans DG
PHOTO: AFP
PESHAWAR:
Although the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa establishment department has termed bureaucratic reshuffling a routine practice, there are a large number of officials who find the frequency of transfers and postings disconcerting.
Many officers in the provincial bureaucracy believe these rotations are “uncalled-for” and do not benefit the departments and offices which they run. “Just when I had learnt how my department works and started delivering results, I was transferred and posted to an entirely different department,” a senior official told The Express Tribune. The official requested anonymity as he was not authorised to speak to the media.
Question marks
According to insiders, many of these bureaucratic reshuffles have led to speculations that the true reason behind the decision to transfer an official is not very straightforward.
On November 19, 2015, a notification was issued to remove various bureaucrats from key positions.
Ahmad Hanif Orakzai, a grade-21 officer who was serving as the finance secretary, was removed. He was put at the disposal of the establishment department and subsequently made an officer on special duty (OSD).
The decision fanned speculation over why Orakzai was removed from one of the top departments and appointed as an OSD. Two months later, he was posted as the relief and rehabilitation secretary – a slot which has been given limited importance by officials.
“The [secretary’s] job can be also done with the PDMA DG an additional charge,” a senior official told The Express Tribune.
Similarly, Dr Hammad Awais Agha, who was the additional chief secretary of the planning and development department, was asked to report to the establishment department and removed from his position on January 18, 2016. Muhammad Azam Khan was posted in his stead. The decision came amid speculations in the bureaucracy that Agha would replace the K-P chief secretary.
Insiders familiar with the matter told The Express Tribune Agha suddenly decided to go on leave and his order of removal was issued by the government. Although there are countless speculations about the move, the reason behind the removal could not be ascertained.
Tahir Orakzai, former managing director of Technical Education and Vocational Training Agency (TEVTA) was also removed from his post in a similar manner. An insider privy to the matter told The Express Tribune Orakzai was not on good terms with the then vice chairman of TEVTA.
Against their will
Insiders believe the list of disgruntled officials who have either been transferred or posted is increasing.
While speaking to The Express Tribune, a senior official gave the example of Farah Hamid Khan – former secretary of the science and technology and information technology (ST&IT) department. She has recently been posted as the secretary of the higher education department and is unhappy over the posting. “She was not willing to take charge as secretary higher education,” the official said.
Fears of mismanagement
Frequent rotations have resulted in fears of mismanagement in various departments. The establishment department has recently transferred Amer Afaq, who served as PDMA DG, to the post of assistant deputy commissioner (ADC) Swabi.
This has raised countless questions as Afaq is a grade-19 officer who has been transferred to a grade-18 post.
Officials have criticised the move, saying Afaq’s transfer has left PDMA without a DG senior officials and triggered fears of mismanagement.
“We don’t know what will happen in the event of an earthquake,” he said.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 18th, 2016.
Although the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa establishment department has termed bureaucratic reshuffling a routine practice, there are a large number of officials who find the frequency of transfers and postings disconcerting.
Many officers in the provincial bureaucracy believe these rotations are “uncalled-for” and do not benefit the departments and offices which they run. “Just when I had learnt how my department works and started delivering results, I was transferred and posted to an entirely different department,” a senior official told The Express Tribune. The official requested anonymity as he was not authorised to speak to the media.
Question marks
According to insiders, many of these bureaucratic reshuffles have led to speculations that the true reason behind the decision to transfer an official is not very straightforward.
On November 19, 2015, a notification was issued to remove various bureaucrats from key positions.
Ahmad Hanif Orakzai, a grade-21 officer who was serving as the finance secretary, was removed. He was put at the disposal of the establishment department and subsequently made an officer on special duty (OSD).
The decision fanned speculation over why Orakzai was removed from one of the top departments and appointed as an OSD. Two months later, he was posted as the relief and rehabilitation secretary – a slot which has been given limited importance by officials.
“The [secretary’s] job can be also done with the PDMA DG an additional charge,” a senior official told The Express Tribune.
Similarly, Dr Hammad Awais Agha, who was the additional chief secretary of the planning and development department, was asked to report to the establishment department and removed from his position on January 18, 2016. Muhammad Azam Khan was posted in his stead. The decision came amid speculations in the bureaucracy that Agha would replace the K-P chief secretary.
Insiders familiar with the matter told The Express Tribune Agha suddenly decided to go on leave and his order of removal was issued by the government. Although there are countless speculations about the move, the reason behind the removal could not be ascertained.
Tahir Orakzai, former managing director of Technical Education and Vocational Training Agency (TEVTA) was also removed from his post in a similar manner. An insider privy to the matter told The Express Tribune Orakzai was not on good terms with the then vice chairman of TEVTA.
Against their will
Insiders believe the list of disgruntled officials who have either been transferred or posted is increasing.
While speaking to The Express Tribune, a senior official gave the example of Farah Hamid Khan – former secretary of the science and technology and information technology (ST&IT) department. She has recently been posted as the secretary of the higher education department and is unhappy over the posting. “She was not willing to take charge as secretary higher education,” the official said.
Fears of mismanagement
Frequent rotations have resulted in fears of mismanagement in various departments. The establishment department has recently transferred Amer Afaq, who served as PDMA DG, to the post of assistant deputy commissioner (ADC) Swabi.
This has raised countless questions as Afaq is a grade-19 officer who has been transferred to a grade-18 post.
Officials have criticised the move, saying Afaq’s transfer has left PDMA without a DG senior officials and triggered fears of mismanagement.
“We don’t know what will happen in the event of an earthquake,” he said.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 18th, 2016.