ISLAMABAD: The health ministry has again gotten a new secretary, with the Establishment Division notifying Momin Agha as the new administrative head.

Agha, a BS-22 officer of the Pakistan Administrative Service (PAS), is the ninth secretary to be appointed during the tenure of Health Minister Mustafa Kamal, who took the oath in February 2025.

According to a notification issued by the Establishment Division on Monday, available with Dawn, Agha “has been transferred and posted as secretary health with immediate effect and until further orders”.

A health expert, requesting anonymity, said eight officers had held the post during the past 19 months, with some changes involving repeat appointments.

According to him, Nadeem Mahboob remained till March 2025, Nasiruddin Mashood till May 2025, Waqarul Hasan till June 2025, Hamed Yaqoob till Feb 2026, Aslam Ghauri till August 2026, retired Captain Mahmood till Sept 2026, then Fakhre Alam joined, and later Mahboob got additional charge of the ministry for just one day before he was replaced with Agha.

When contacted earlier, Kamal had told Dawn that he had nothing to do with the changes of secretaries, as the Establishment Division was empowered to make such decisions.

Agha was removed as petroleum secretary in January 2026 and directed to report to the Establishment Division without a further posting.

He was replaced by Mirza Nasiruddin Ahmad, who was given the additional charge of the post on a look-after basis pending the appointment of a regular officer.