The government in the federal budget 2011-12 had announced a plan to monetise transport facilities by offering the officers to purchase the government cars at depreciated prices and receive transportation allowance in cash. — File Photo

ISLAMABAD: Finance Secretary Dr Waqar Masood Khan reshuffled almost the entire cadre of 11 joint secretaries on Thursday after reports that a few of the officers had made unauthorised expenditure on repair and maintenance of staff cars in anticipation of buying them on cheaper rates.

A notification issued by the finance ministry did not mention any reason for making such a large-scale reshuffle.

The government in the federal budget 2011-12 had announced a plan to monetise transport facilities by offering the officers to purchase the government cars at depreciated prices and receive transportation allowance in cash.

Insiders said a few officers had started using cars of higher capacity and spent substantial amounts on their repair so that they could buy them later at cheap rates.

Among such unauthorised cars, a 166cc car is in the use of a worker of a private TV channel. The ministry officially maintains a list of about a dozen staff cars being used by non-entitled officers, but there are several others who use cars of higher capacity to which they are not entitled.

According to the notification, Shabib Ahmed, joint secretary looking after corporate finance, has been transferred and posted as JS budget, in place of Talib Baloch who would now work as director budget in coordination with JS budget.

Another JS corporate finance, Nasrullah Khan, has been posted as financial adviser (I&B and FBR) in place of Ahmed Hussain who would replace Mr Nasrullah.

Shafqat Ranjha, a joint secretary awaiting posting, has been made JS internal finance vice Abdul Akbar Sharifzada who has been assigned the post of special assistance to the finance minister.

Another joint secretary awaiting posting, Naveed Alauddin, has been posted as JS corporate finance. Mohammad Anwar Khan, a senior joint secretary, would also look after the duties of JS human resource and financial adviser establishment division in place of Liaqat Munir Rao who would now serve as financial adviser interior, narcotics and wafaqi mohtasib.

Mohammad Sarwar, in addition to his current responsibilities, would work as financial adviser commerce. Aamir Mehmood, another JS awaiting posting, has been posted as financial analyst and would report to the additional secretary internal finance.