LAHORE: In a major reshuffle, the Punjab government on Sunday posted 10 deputy commissioners, eight of them BS-18 officers.

Lodhran and Rajanpur districts have got BS-19 officers as deputy commissioners.

The BS-18 deputy commissioners have been posted in Lahore, Bahawalpur, D.G. Khan, Okara, Chakwal, Khushab, Muzaffargarh and Bhakkar districts – in their own pay and scale.

Eight of DCs are in BS-18

Former DCs have been transferred and asked to report to the Services & General Administration Department for further orders.

It is learnt that some DCs including those of Muzaffargarh and Rajanpur had themselves requested the chief secretary to post them away from their districts. A few deputy commissioners have been transferred on “negative public feedback” and complaints by the public representatives. A deputy commissioner, who is alleged to have made a wild card entry, has been posted on the request of a newly-appointed minister.

Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif had conducted interviews of the candidates from the panels forwarded by the chief secretary and held detailed consultations with various stakeholders.

After the wrapping up of the offices of the district coordination officers (DCOs), sources say senior officers somewhat lost interest in the posts of “powerless” deputy commissioners.

Chief Minister’s Personal Staff Officer Sumair Ahmad Syed has been transferred and posted as deputy commissioner of Lahore. Former deputy commissioner Muhammad Usman has been directed to report to the S&GAD. He will be proceeding on a senior management course early next month.

Muhammad Saleem Afzal, awaiting posting, has been posted as DC Bahawalpur vice Dr Ehtisham Anwar who has been transferred and directed to report to the S&GAD.

Allah Rakha Anjum, upon cancellation of his unavailed portion of 120 days leave, has been posted as DC D.G. Khan vice Nadeemur Rehman who has been transferred and directed to report to the S&GAD.

Saima Ahad Cheema, deputy secretary (General) in the office of Chief Secretary, has been transferred and posted as DC Okara vice Socrat Aman Rana who has been transferred and directed to report to the S&GAD.

Umar Jahangir, awaiting posting, has been posted as DC Chakwal vice Mahmood Javed Bhatti. Mr Bhatti has been transferred and directed to report to the S&GAD.

Amjad Bashir, additional DC (Headquarters) Bahawalpur, has been transferred and posted as DC Khushab against a vacant post, relieving Mian Behzad Adil, additional DC (Revenue) Khushab, of the additional charge.

Muhammad Saif Anwar Jappa, Director Land Development & Estate Management at the Rawalpindi Development Authority, has been transferred and posted as DC Muzaffargarh vice Shaukat Ali who has been directed to report to the S&GAD.

Syed Bilal Haider, additional secretary food department, has been transferred and posted as DC Bhakkar. Ahmad Mustajab Karamat will report to the S&GAD after relinquishing the office.

Raja Khurram Shahzad Umar, Director-General Mines & Minerals, Punjab, has been posted as DC Lodhran vice Muhammad Shahid Niaz. Mr Niaz has been asked to report to the S&GAD.

Ashfaq Ahmad (BS-19), Director (on officiating basis) Anti-Corruption Establishment, Gujranwala Region, has been transferred and posted as DC Rajanpur vice Zahoor Hussain who will report to the S&GAD.

It is learnt that DC Sargodha Danish Afzal has been made an OSD. The post of DC Rahim Yar Khan is also vacant. Muhammad Masood Mukhtar, additional secretary to chief secretary, a BS-19 officer, was on top of the panel interviewed by the chief minister for Rahim Yar Khan DC, but he could not get through.

Rana Muhammad Saleem Afzal, who was second on the panel for the post, has been posted as DC Bahawalpur. The post of Senior Member Board of Revenue as well as posts of administrative secretaries of food, irrigation and information are also vacant.

Published in Dawn, January 23rd, 2017