PESHAWAR: The health department has asked the director general of health services academy to relinquish charge of his position or face disciplinary action, according to official sources.

They said that despite issuance of his transfer order, he was reluctant to relinquish charge to the newly-posted director general of Peshawar Health Services Academy (PHSA).

On April 22, the government issued transfer order of PHSA director general Dr Abdul Waheed Khan (BPS-19) and posted him as regional director of health services (South) with immediate effect.

Dr Mohammad Saleem (BPS-20), the director of health management information system at the office of director general health services Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, was posted as director general of PHSA. However, the new director general was yet to start working and operation of PHSA had come to a standstill, official sources said.

New director general complains that his predecessor has locked office

They said that Dr Mohammad Saleem assumed charge of his new assignment as per the notification but Dr Waheed Khan was yet to relinquish charge, prompting health secretariat to issue him directives to comply with the order or face disciplinary action.

Dr Saleem informed Health Secretary Shahidullah Khan through a complaint that he had assumed charge of post of PHSA director general on April 23 in compliance with the department’s notification of April 22 but the former director general was yet to give him charge, sources said.

Dr Waheed Khan is in possession of key of office and he has locked the office, which is creating hindrance in official work, according to the complaint received at health secretariat. The former director general was also in possession of official cheque book of National Bank of Pakistan as well as official vehicle, it said.

“Dr Saleem has requested for necessary guidance and action by health secretary to pave way for resumption of work,” said sources.

On Thursday, the health secretary issued directives to Dr Waheed Khan to implement the government notification immediately.

“In compliance of the health department’s notification, the incumbent Dr Mohammad Saleem has assumed the charge of post PHSA director general and therefore you are directed to relinquish the charge of the post,” said the directives.

Dr Waheed has been asked to assume the charge of the post of regional director health services (South) forthwith; otherwise disciplinary action will be initiated against him under Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Government Servants (Efficiency Discipline) Rules, 2011.

Sources said that PHSA was busy with several trainings of doctors for promotion and locking the office by a person, who had been transferred by government, was a serious offence. “His wife, who is also working as director administration in PHSA is not coming for duty since April 23,” they added.

PHSA plays significant role in strengthening public health network including training in mother and childhood diseases and management, through a series of health programmes.

These programmes encompass preventive, promotive and curative aspects of healthcare delivery system for disease prevention and its control, health education and nutrition through provision of comprehensive emergency obstetrics and newborn care (EmONC) services focusing mother and child.

“Most importantly, PHSA is mandated to achieve the desired goals and objectives of health department through highly qualified trained and dedicated human resource to look after mother and child with best of their capabilities,” said sources.

The academy has been providing quality medical and paramedical education and producing trained healthcare workers through a network of public health schools, which are playing pivotal role in producing the desired workforce in the form of lady health visitors to strengthen community healthcare.

Published in Dawn, May 1st, 2026