MULTAN: Four officers of the Provincial Management Service posted in south Punjab have not been promoted by the provincial selection board from BS-18 to 19 despite three of them already holding the posts of BS-19 on their own pay and scale for around a year.

Multan Additional Commissioner (Revenue) Muhammad Arshad Gopang and Multan Waste Management Company Managing Director (MD)/Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Fakharul Islam Dogar were found ineligible for promotion to additional secretary/additional commissioner/deputy commissioner or equivalent posts of BS-19 in their cadre as their one-year ‘observation period’ had yet to expire.

The selection board held its meeting on March 27 and a notification was issued on April 28.

The practice of placing a favourite officer on ‘observation’ is usually adopted by the board to facilitate the person who otherwise may not be eligible or competent to hold a post and subsequently for a promotion, thus taking a chance that the officer may finally qualify for a promotion.

Mr Gopang was appointed the additional commissioner on his own pay and scale a year ago, but was not considered eligible for a formal promotion to the next scale by the selection board. Similarly, Mr Dogar is facing corruption charges and was transferred on April 6, however he managed to get the move halted on April 9. The order regarding the placement of his services at the disposal of the Services and General Administration Department was held in abeyance till further orders. But even after the passage of a month since his transfer orders, he continues to stay on the post.

An officer on condition of anonymity told Dawn that there was no provision of ‘observation’ in the promotion policy rather it was a means to give an undue favour to someone.

“It has no legal backing. The word of observation is used neither in the promotion policy nor in the guidelines issued in connection with the promotion policy. But since last year, this illegal and unjust practice is being observed by the board,” he added.

Moreover, the cases of South Punjab Finance Additional Secretary Muhammad Zahid Ikram and Bahawalpur Additional Commissioner (Coordination) Faisal Atta were deferred for promotion due to their service records being incomplete. They both were also already holding the posts which they had to be promoted to, but their cases were deferred.

According to the Punjab Promotion Policy 2010, “Subject to availability of a post for the time being reserved for the promotion, a civil servant will be considered for promotion and after such consideration, he will be recommended for regular promotion or appointment on an acting charge basis or deferment or supersession.”

It stated that after consideration of the names on the panel, the selection board could recommend a civil servant for deferment if the officer has failed to submit personal evaluation report (PER) forms to the reporting officer; PER dossier is incomplete, especially last full year’s report is missing, or any other document/information required by the PSB for determining his suitability for promotion is not available; the record of the officer is not clear, especially for the last five years (contains adverse remarks or pending decision on the representation) and disciplinary proceedings, anti-corruption, or other enquiries or criminal cases are pending against him.

However, the officer whose promotion is deferred will be considered as soon as the reason, on the basis of which deferment took place, ceases to exist but the posts will be reserved for the officers recommended for deferment. Such posts may be filled up temporarily on an officiating basis.

The officer will be superseded if he does not fulfil the eligibility.

Published in Dawn, May 12th, 2021