Five ghost employees found in P&D Department

Other irregularities have also surfaced, such as missing laptops, unrecovered cars

PESHAWAR:

Irregularities in the K-P Planning and Development Department’s monitoring and evaluation (M&E) cell’s affairs have been surfacing recently. The presence of ghost employees is among the flock of problems it is faced with.

According to officials dealing with the cell, around five ghost employees have been identified. Besides, a number of others recruited for the department’s headquarters were performing duties at locations they had selected of their own volition.



They stated that the ghost employees had been inducted for a long time and were hired without following proper procedures.

The officials said two were terminated immediately and as many resigned. They added the remaining workers would tender their resignations in a day or two. Those employees on duty at places of their will were told to report to headquarters immediately.

Firm stance

“I really wonder what was happening at the department,” a senior official said.

He added some vehicles were still in possession of retired or transferred officials and their fuel usage was being charged to the department. However, nobody bothered to enquire about the issue.

The official said four vehicles allotted to different people were retrieved. In addition, officials who were either transferred or had retired from service were told to immediately hand over vehicles to the department if still in their use.

Fuelling blocked

When contacted, the cell administration’s deputy director, Usman Zaman, confirmed the developments. He told The Express Tribune the action was taken after complaints were received. He stated the vehicles were retrieved and their fuelling also blocked.



Zaman added fuel supply for these cars would only resume once a request was approved by him. Zaman admitted that people in the past would bring slips and ask for fuel charges.

Another senior official said some laptops, printers and cameras were also missing from the department.

However, the missing items were traced and some retrieved. He added a letter was also sent to the Charsadda DPO to register an FIR against an employee for the recovery of a laptop and printer from his possession.

“Yes, it is true that some laptops, printers and cameras are missing, but we are retrieving the items and disciplinary action will be taken against the employees,” Zaman said. He added matters would be streamlined.

A complaint cell was being established, he stated, and the public can register their grievances by sending messages. He said online complaints could also be submitted against substandard construction in different projects.

Zaman added a meeting of the divisional monitoring cell had been arranged. The cell was asked to submit a progress report and devise future strategies to focus on mega projects in the province.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 20^th, 2016.