Abuse of power: FESCO chief exposes illegal promotions at PEPCO

HR head promotes officers without board’s approval

LAHORE: The head of Human Resources at Pakistan Electric Power Company (PEPCO) has been caught-red handed for dishing out unauthorized promotions within the holding company.

According to the details obtained by The Express Tribune, Sagheer Ahmed, General Manager Human Resources at PEPCO, who was appointed by an influential Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz leader, has issued the promotion letters of officers whose elevation was previously deferred by the PEPCO Promotion Board.

To pave way for these elevations, Ahmed also altered the promotion board’s record to help these officers secure the positions of superintendent engineers.

As per the rules, promotions at PEPCO only happen with the unanimous approval of the promotion board which is headed by the Power Secretary, Managing Director PEPCO and CEOs of all power distribution companies.

Karachi Electric says it can’t meet city’s power demand. Numbers suggest otherwise

According to the notifications signed by the GM HR at PEPCO, Mehmood Ahmad and Muhammad Iqbal were among those who were illegally promoted without the board’s approval.

Upon learning about the unauthorized promotions, Faisalabad Electric Supply Company (FESCO) CEO Mujahid Islam, who is also a member of the selection board, raised the red flag.

In a letter to PEPCO’s HR head, Islam questioned the breach of protocol and the unauthorized promotions of officers whose elevations were previously rejected by the board.

“How was the promotion order issued without the approval of the board members?” Islam inquired in his letter dated July 18, 2019.

The controversial move has also irked engineers who have raised a hue and cry about the violation of promotion policies. They have demanded an independent inquiry into the matter.

Commenting on the issue, Federal Secretary Power Division Irfan Ali said: “We have summoned a report from PEPCO and until the report is received nothing can be said.”