LAHORE: The Ministry of Energy (Power Division) has been asked to appoint one of the three officials, recommended by the Board of Director (BoD), as MD of the National Transmission and Despatch Company (NTDC) on a look-after-charge basis as a stop-gap arrangement till the appointment of the regular incumbent.

The officers who have been recommended by the BoD to head the company include Mr Waqas Bin Najib and Mr Ahmad Taimoor Nasir (non-executive directors of the BoD) and Mr Manzoor Ahmad Ahmad, deputy MD, who already served as MD after the retirement and left the charge in the light of the Islamabad High Court’s order that sought appointment of senior most officer as MD on look-after-charge basis. In the meanwhile, he was also hired by the NTDC as deputy managing director (DMD).

According to a letter written to the Power Division Secretary, by the company secretary, the BoD of NTDC in its 226th meeting held on May 31, 2022 extensively deliberated on assigning the look-after-charge to a suitable person for the vacant position of NTDC MD after expiry of six-month term of Mr Manzoor Ahmad. Moreover, the board has already submitted its recommendation for appointment of regular MD after following due process vide its letter of March 16, 2022.

According to an official source, the Islamabad High Court had directed the quarters concerned to appoint the most senior officer to look after the charge of NTDC MD. Talking to Dawn, a reliable official source in the ministry told Dawn that recommendation of the NTDC is not binding on the ministry. “The ministry, while appointing MD on look-after-charge basis, will only consider merit,” the officer said.

Published in Dawn,June 10th, 2022