ISLAMABAD: The management of the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims) is making efforts to upgrade the post of its director finance (BPS-19) to a BPS-20 position in a bid to hang on to the incumbent officer.

The hospital’s management, overseeing a budget of over Rs10 billion, believes the move is essential. The Grade 20 post will be that of a director general, which Pims officials argue is necessary to effectively manage the financial affairs of the expanding hospital.

However, several employees said the upgradation was being pursued primarily to retain the services of the current director finance, who has recently been promoted to BPS-20 as the controller of military accounts at Heavy Industries Taxila.

According to documents seen by Dawn, Mahar Mohammad Usman Ghani – who belongs to the Pakistan Audit and Accounts Service and is presently posted as Director Finance at Pims – has been promoted to BPS-20 and transferred to HIT Taxila.

Seeks upgradation of director finance post to BPS-20 in an effort to hang on to Mahar Mohammad Usman Ghani, who has been posted to Heavy Industries Taxila

Another document from the Ministry of Health, sent to the Establishment Division, states that Pims has been continuously expanding since its inception with various components such as the MCH Centre, Children’s Hospital, Cardiac Centre, Federal Breast Screening Centre and extensions of the MCH and Burn Care Centre. Ongoing expansions include a 200-bed state-of-the-art emergency department, a 200-bed cancer hospital and the Sehat Sahulat Programme (SSP).

The document states that Pims wishes to retain the services of Mr Ghani to manage its substantial financial budget, complete the closing of the outgoing financial year and oversee financial management of ongoing projects.

“The Accounts and Finance Department currently lacks the required financial competence, skills and expertise,” the letter stated.

“Therefore, Pims has requested that the post of Director Finance (BS-19) be upgraded – specific and personal to the incumbent, Mr Mahar Muhammad Usman Ghani – to BS-20 as Director General (Finance), on a temporary basis. This would enable Pims to retain his services.”

The post of Director Finance (BS-19) is currently under litigation in the Supreme Court of Pakistan, and a new BS-19 officer from the Auditor General of Pakistan cannot be posted to Pims until the case is resolved,” the letter added.

“Upon upgradation, Mr Ghani will hold the post of Director General (Finance/BS-20), Pims, on an additional charge basis. He has not yet relinquished his charge as the director finance due to the ongoing budget closing process. A change in signatory at the AGPR and relevant banks at this critical stage could cause delays in both regular and development expenditures,” the letter said.

When contacted, a senior Pims management officer, speaking on condition of anonymity, argued that retaining the current officer would help resolve key issues within the finance department.

“It’s always better to let the officer who spent the funds handle the bookkeeping and finalise the balance sheet,” he explained.

Published in Dawn, June 16th, 2025