GILGIT, July 8: The Northern Areas chief secretary has reinstated four officers of the Northern Areas Transport Corporation (Natco) in their services.

The chief secretary recently heard an appeal filed by the officers who had been declared retired by the former managing director, Dr Imran Afzal Cheema, in December last year.

Sources said the retired officers – Sahib Nazar, workshop in-charge; Sifaat Aanoon, traffic manager; Wasiuzzaman, deputy managing director; and Sher Afzal, accounts officer – had filed the appeal against their premature retirement with the regional chief secretary, who is also the chairman of the Natco board of directors.

They said the Natco chairman at a meeting held in June discussed their appeal and subsequently their services were restored from the date of their retirement.

The reinstated officers said they had established a self-financed pension fund to assist retiring officials and employees and the fund had nothing to do with affairs of Natco.