In doldrums: Ministry of Housing and Works gets its sixth secretary this year

Constant reshuffles get blame for ministry’s poor performance

ISLAMABAD: Seat warming seems to be the name of the game at the Ministry of Housing and Works, which appointed its sixth secretary this year.

Shahrukh Arbab is the latest appointment, replacing Younis Daga, who was made the Water and Power secretary on October 18.

Adding to the housing ministry’s problems, Daga had also successfully requested that former Housing Joint Secretary Omer Rasul join him at the Water and Power Ministry.



The departure of the two senior officers has put the ministry in trouble as four officers were recently relieved from duty on charges of corruption, while several other transfers are on the cards.

In and out

Currently, there are two posts for section officers, besides 15 other lower cadre posts, lying vacant.

Estate Officer Ata Shah was suspended last week and another officer was given acting charge. Director General Public Works Department also holds acting charge.

Pakistan Housing Foundation DG Waqas Ali holds additional charge as the post is sanctioned for officer of grade 21. Meanwhile, the estate office is being run by a section officer for the last three months.

A source said that a list of around a dozen other officers has also been prepared and within days, suspension orders will be issued on the basis of inquiries against them.

Delays galore

Besides, 588 housing units being developed on Kuri Road under the Pakistan Housing Authority Foundation (PHAF), initiated in March 2012 and due for completion in 18 months, continue to be delayeddue to issues between the ministry and the contractor. The construction of over 3,200 residential plots in Federal Government Employees Housing Foundation (FGEHF) in Bhara Kahu has also been in the doldrums since 2009.

The Senate Standing Committee on Housing and Works took to the parliament’s floor on Tuesday to voice their concerns regarding the blows that the ministry has suffered.

Committee Chairperson Shahi Syed said after every few months, the secretary is changed, which hinder progress on projects nationwide.

“Frequent shuffling leads to more mistakes and poor decisionmaking in the ministry and its departments,” he added.  Senator Zafar Ali Shah proposed that every secretary should be asked to work for at least three years in the same ministry so that responsibility could be pinned on individuals.

Commenting on the new appointment, the ministry’s public relations officer said that things are likely to improve after the arrival of the new secretary.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 25^th, 2014.