ISLAMABAD: The Ministry of National Health Services (NHS) has decided to withdraw all appointments to director-level offices in the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (Drap) on the current or additional charge basis immediately.

A letter from the ministry available with Dawn states that the competent authority has noticed the appointments at Drap on the current charge basis and decided to withdraw all such appointments to director (RO-15/BPS-20) positions on current or additional charge basis.

It has also asked for consolidated proposals to fill vacant director positions in the authority for the approval of the federal government according to section 4 of the Drap Act.

A Drap official who asked not to be named said that there are 13 directorates in the authority, and charge of 10 of them were given to junior officers from BPS-20, even though BPS-20 officers should be appointed directors.

“Unfortunately, no one bothered to end ad hoc-ism in Drap during the previous government. A junior officer was even given charge as Drap CEO while officers more senior have been working under him,” the official said.

Junior officers have even been charge of more than one directorate, he said, but this invited to attention.

“Currently, BPS-20 officers only hold charge of three directorates – pricing, biological drugs and budget. However, the promotions of some officers are pending so we expect that the ministry will also look into that and ensure they are promoted,” he said.

The official said it was a positive thing for the ministry to try and streamline matters and suggested in addition to merit-based director appointments, an uncontroversial individual should also be appointed Drap CEO.

NHS Minister Aamer Mehmood Kiani could not be reached for comment despite several attempts.

The ministry’s media coordinator, Sajid Khan, told Dawn that the minister took notice of Drap officers working on current charge and directed for ad hoc-ism to be removed in Drap.

“Moreover, Drap has been directed to give proposals to fill posts of directors with suitable personalities. We hope that all the issues in the authority will be streamlined soon,” he added.

Published in Dawn, September 24th, 2018