Federal govt ignores request for CS
With the federal government led by the PML-N seemingly settling its political score with the PTI-led coalition by stonewalling key appoints in Punjab, the provincial government is continuing with a stopgap arrangement, extending the tenure of the acting chief secretary for the fourth time to allow him to function for 30 more days to ensure smooth administrative functioning of the province.
The federal government has kept the matter of appointing the permanent chief secretary of Punjab in limbo since September amid a rift with the PTI and PML-Q’s Punjab government.
The provincial administration extended the acting charge of Planning and Development Board Chairman Abdullah Khan Sumbal till December 6 through a notification issued on Sunday.
Sumbal was initially given the additional charge of chief secretary for 14 days from September 17, which ended on September 30.
Later, his charge was extended till October 7 and then November 6. Chief Secretary Kamran Ali Afzal has been on leave during the period.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 7th, 2022.