LAHORE: The Punjab government in an astonishing move posted retired Flt Lt Iftikhar Ali Sahoo and Sarah Aslam against key posts of administrative secretaries of the finance and school education departments, respectively, despite the fact that both officers are currently attending the National Management Course (NMC).

Mr Sahoo and Ms Aslam were serving as principal secretary to the chief minister and the school education secretary when they went to attend the course.

Since the National Management School required that an officer attending the NMC be relieved from his/her active duty, the Punjab government had transferred both officers on Nov 16 and directed them to report to the Services and General Administration Department till the completion of the course and further orders. School Education Minister Murad Raas had resisted the transfer of Ms Aslam, but he was admonished for taking up the matter in a meeting out of the blue.

Meanwhile, Punjab Finance Secretary Abdullah Khan Sumbal had been transferred and posted as chairman of the Planning and Development Board on Jan 21 and given the additional charge of the finance secretary.

As both key posts of finance and school education departments were vacant, the Punjab government eventually posted Mr Sahoo as finance secretary and Ms Aslam as school education secretary – despite both officers currently attending the NMC.

Former additional chief secretary (agriculture and rural economy) Ali Tahir was also transferred and made an officer on special duty on Nov 16 as he too was attending the NMC.

Mr Tahir was also currently on the course, but has been posted as the management and professional development secretary.

Published in Dawn, February 4th, 2021