ISLAMABAD: A brigade of directors general is costing the National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra) around Rs87 million annually, documents presented recently before the National Assembly have revealed.

As many as 19 directors general are working at Nadra, with their gross salaries ranging between Rs210,074 and Rs898,439 per month. Their house rent allowances vary from Rs37,452 to Rs181,451.

None of them appears to have extraordinary qualifications. At least three of them are simple graduates while some others possess degrees in irrelevant disciplines, including aerospace engineering and war studies.

Zulfiqar Ali, the director general for technology, is drawing a monthly salary of Rs898,439. He has a master’s degree in computer science and his basic salary is Rs403,225.

S. Muzaffar Ali, the director general for software, is drawing a gross salary of Rs750,475 while his basic salary is Rs316,129. He has a Bachelor of Engineering degree in electronics.

Mr Ali is the only director general who has a domicile of Balochistan. The rest are either from Punjab or Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Fizzah Shahid, the director general for quality assurance, is drawing a gross salary of Rs594,380. She holds a master’s degree in computer science and her basic salary is Rs248,387.

Mir Alam Khan, a brother of former PPP legislator Noor Alam Khan, is a simple graduate but is among the directors general drawing a monthly salary of at least Rs500,000.

He is serving at Nadra’s regional head office in Sargodha. He is drawing Rs531,869 per month as gross salary, his basic salary being Rs219,354.

Tahir Akram, the director general for administration and human resources, holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA). His gross salary stands at Rs524,274 while his basic salary is Rs248,387.

Retired Colonel Tahir Maqsood, posted at the regional head office in Islamabad, possesses a Master of Public Administration (MPA) degree. His gross salary is Rs512,513 a month.

Zulfiqar Ahmad, the director general for projects, also holds an MPA degree. His gross salary stands at Rs418,549 while his basic salary is Rs200,000.

Retired Brigadier Bilal Saeed Ullah Khan, serving as the director general for registration, has a master’s degree in war studies. His gross salary is Rs382,353, his basic salary being Rs169,032.

Retired Lt Col Mohammad Anees Khan, posted at the regional head office in Lahore, is a graduate. He is getting a gross salary of Rs354,034. His basic salary is Rs138,065.

Retired Lt Col Mohammad Ahmad Khatak, serving as the director general for civil registration, has a Bachelor of Arts degree. He is drawing a gross salary of Rs349,937 per month.

Retired Brig Nasar Ahmad Mir, serving as the director general for operations, holds a Bachelor of Sciences (BS) degree in civil engineering. His gross salary is Rs339,000.

Retired Lt Col Mahmood Iqbal, officiating DG at the regional head office in Karachi, is also a simple BA. Retired Col Naveed Zafar, director general at the regional head office in Multan, holds a Bachelor of Engineering in aerospace sciences.

Gohar Ahmad Khan, serving as the director general at the regional head office in Peshawar, holds an MBA, but draws a comparatively low salary of Rs210,074 per month. His basic salary is Rs61,955.

Published in Dawn, March 25th, 2016