Bureaucrats step up efforts to appoint officers to top slots

Sources say BS-21 officers are likely to be appointed to BS-22 seats

LAHORE:

As certain officers prepare to retire this month, certain groups in the bureaucracy have stepped up efforts to appoint their officers to the top slots.

BS-22 officer Habibur Rehman Gilani, who currently heads the Pakistan Railway, will retire from his post on March 11 at the age of 60. BS-22 officer Wajid Zia, who gained notoriety in the Panama Papers investigation, and now heads the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), will retire on March 27. Mumtaz Ali Shah, who is the current chief secretary of Sindh, will retire on March 31 at the age of 60.

As these officials approach their retirement, bureaucratic groups have started mobilising their efforts to appoint officers from their respective groups to these posts.

Sources told The Express Tribune that many senior officers could not be promoted to BS-22 as the high-power selection board meeting was not convened. Therefore, they added, senior officers of BS-21 are likely to be appointed to these important posts.

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Therefore, with many contenders in sight, bureaucratic groups have started efforts to get their officials appointed to these posts.

It is highly likely that appointments to these seats will be made this week, and a summary will be sent to Prime Minister Imran Khan for final approval.