November 03, 2008	Monday	Ziqa'ad 4, 1429

PESHAWAR, Nov 2: A tug-of-war between Fata Secretariat and Fata Development Authority (FDA) over retention of surplus employees has been causing financial loss to the national exchequer, it is learnt.

Sources said that minerals sector of Fata Secretariat including the directorate was incorporated in FDA through a notification in April 2007. But Fata Secretariat still retained services of about 30 employees of the directorate of minerals, they added.

Sources said that those surplus employees were supposed to be transferred to the authority after incorporation of the directorate of minerals but they were sitting idle in the secretariat for the last two years drawing salaries with perks and privileges.

According to sources about Rs30 million had been spent on payment of salaries and utility bills of these surplus employees in financial year 2007-08 and running parallel mineral directorate in the secretariat.

With the promulgation of Fata Development Authority regulation 2006 by the president regulatory functions of the mineral sector in tribal area was also assigned to the authority. Subsequently mineral department was also incorporated in the authority under the rules of business.

An official said that Fata additional chief secretary had agreed in principle to transfer the remaining staff to the authority but some vested interests were creating hurdles which had resulted in financial losses to the government.

Sources said that FDA chief executive had asked the secretariat to transfer the required employees belonging to the mineral directorate and place them at the disposal of the authority.

Sources said that after the incorporation of the mineral sector in the authority Fata additional chief secretary had allowed a senior geologist to work against the post of deputy director minerals (BPS-18) in his own pay and scale in FDA through a notification in September 2007.

In the meantime Fata Secretariat appointed another geologist as deputy director minerals (BPS-18) in December 2007 who has been running parallel office.

The authority chief executive, according to the sources, had pointed out that such decisions would create hindrances in smooth running of the mineral department in FDA.

A letter said that all the mineral activities in the region had already been transferred to the authority along with the staff and Fata Secretariat had nothing to do with the activities in mineral sector therefore such orders could lead to serious audit objections.

The authority has proposed that the surplus staff of mineral directorate might be adjusted in Fata Secretariat or elsewhere in order to avoid audit observations and duplication.