LAHORE: The health and finance departments are pressurising the planning and development board to shift two top slots of the Punjab Thalassaemia Prevention Project (PTPP) from development to non-development budget allegedly in violation of the rules and regulations.

The posts were project director and deputy project director, which have been proposed to be upgraded to executive director and admin director to accommodate the officials of choice against a high pay scale.

Earlier, the finance department had twice rejected the summary moved by the specialised healthcare and medical education department to shift these slots from development to non-development for being against the policy. The health department had wanted to convert these basic pay scale posts into MP-I and MP-II with hefty pay packages exceeding Rs700,000 and Rs500,00, respectively to accommodate the officials of choice.

The monitoring and evaluation director general (DG) of the government’s planning and development board had also rejected this move with strong-worded remarks that it would not only be unprecedented, but also sheer violation of the rules and regulations.

However, the health department insisted on following the proposal, asking the finance department to get it reviewed and approved from the DG at any cost.

Planning board has already rejected move calling it unprecedented, against rules

“The specialised healthcare and medical education department has initiated a summary titled Shifting of Punjab Thalassaemia Prevention Project (Phase 2) from Development to Non-Development in which it has requested posts of project director and deputy project director to be included in the [Schedule of New Expenditure (SNE)] as executive director and director,” reads a letter of the finance department.

Addressing the DG, the finance authorities wrote that these posts were not recommended by him during the 192nd evaluation committee meeting held on Dec 8, 2020. “However, SH&ME department is of the view that these posts are essential for shifting the project from development to non-development side,” the letter further read. It stated that keeping in view the abovementioned reasons the DG may review the request.

In response, the DG again rejected the proposal, terming it against the rules and policy. He asked the department to follow the decision taken by the evaluation committee meeting of his department, which was represented by members from the finance and health departments.

“The finance department may address the subject case as per policy in the light of the minutes of the 192nd meeting ECM held on Dec 8, 2020,” reads the DG’s response to the finance department. He referred to the meeting that recommended abolishing the two slots in question.

“The posts such as project director and deputy projector director are not required in the non-development phase of the project,” read the meeting minutes.

The minutes had concluded that the posts, which are recommended for SNE, will carry the regular basic pay scale as prescribed in the original PC-I of the PTPP Phase-II.

Published in Dawn, April 29th, 2021