MUZAFFARABAD: The Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) government on Thursday made several postings and transfers at the secretariat and district administration level in what was first major bureaucratic reshuffle after Prime Minister Raja Farooq Haider assumed office on July 31.

According to a notification, Farhat Ali Mir, secretary forests, wildlife and fisheries was transferred and posted against the vacant post of additional chief secretary (general). He was replaced by Syed Zahoorul Hassan Gillani, secretary information, tourism and information technology. Mr Gillani will also hold the charge of secretary information, tourism and information technology.

Dr Mahmood-ul-Hassan Raja, officer on special duty (OSD) since long, was transferred and posted as secretary local government and rural development, Mohammad Zahid Abbasi, secretary communication and works (C&W) was transferred and posted as secretary population welfare, Chaudhry Mohammad Khalil, secretary physical planning and housing (PPH) was made OSD and attached with the Services and General Administration Department (S&GAD), Sardar Mohammad Zafar Khan, secretary population welfare, was transferred against the vacant post of secretary/director general State Earthquake Reconstruction Authority (Serra).

Chaudhry Liaqat Hussain, secretary higher education, and Syed Shahid Mohyiddin, secretary S&GAD were mutually transferred.

Two chief engineers of the C&W department were also elevated as secretaries to the government. Malik Israr Ahmed, currently serving as chief engineer civil in Power Development Organisation, was transferred and posted as secretary PPH and Syed Abid Gillani, currently OSD in S&GAD, was transferred and posted as secretary C&W.

However, no one was appointed as principal secretary to the prime minister, a charge being held by Ehsan Khalid Kiani, senior member, Board of Revenue (SMBR).

Through another notification, the government transferred and posted deputy commissioner (DC) Muzaffarabad Masood ur Rehman as principal staff officer (PSO) to the prime minister in place of Chaudhry Mukhtar Hussain, who was transferred as secretary Board of Revenue.

Ms Tehzib-un-Nisa, programme director Public Private Health Initiative (PPHI), was transferred and posted as DC Muzaffarabad. She was replaced in PPHI by Chaudhry Muhammad Fareed, secretary Board of Revenue.

Abdul Hameed Kiani, DC Neelum and Waheed Khan, DC Hattian Bala, were mutually transferred.

Published in Dawn, August 19th, 2016