KARACHI, Aug 1: In a major reshuffle in the Sindh bureaucracy on Thursday, the provincial government transferred and posted around 17 secretaries, sources told Dawn.
Informed sources said that this decision was taken to fill a perceived administrative vacuum since during the past one-and-a-half months around 569 officers were removed on the apex court’s orders. This had left some posts vacant while other officers had been waiting for further postings after the recent merger of departments.
Interestingly, sources said that a notification No SO-I issued on August 1, 2013 by the services, general, administration and coordination department (SGA&CD) clearly mentioned that Iqbal Hussain Durrani, who is still on the National Management Course, was appointed secretary for the agriculture department, relieving Muhammad Naseer Jamali of the additional charge.
Mr Durrani would assume office after completing his training course.
“He [Durrani] will, however, take over the charge of the post upon completion and return from National Management Course,” says the notification.
According to the notification, Syed Mumtaz Ali Shah, BPS-21, was posted as the additional chief secretary of the provincial home department, vice Muhammad Waseem who was directed to report to the SGA&CD.
Secretary of the tourism department Arif Ellai, BPS-20, was transferred and posted as secretary of the industries and commerce department, relieving Zahid Hussain Memon of the additional charge.
Shahid Gulzar Shaikh, ex-PCS (BPS-21) and a member of the Sindh Board of Revenue, shall continue to hold the additional charge of rehabilitation secretary.
Special secretary prisons Zafar Iqbal, BPS-20, was transferred and posted as secretary of the livestock and fisheries department, relieving Muhammad Ramzan Awan of the additional charge.
Special secretary finance Agha Wasif Abbas, BPS-20, was transferred and posted as the secretary of the energy department, vice Muhammad Farooq Leghari who was transferred and directed to report to the SGA&CD.
Talha Ahmed Farooqui, an officer of the Secretariat Group (BS-20) and special secretary of public health engineering and health departments, was transferred and posted as secretary of the transport and mass transit department, vice Nazar Muhammad Kalhoro, ex-PCS BPS-20, who was transferred and directed to report to the SGA&CD.
Forest and wildlife secretary Fazalur Rehman, BPS-20, was transferred and posted as the managing director of the Sindh public regulatory department, vice Shakeel Ahmed Mangnejo, BS-20, who was transferred and posted as the secretary of the social welfare department, thereby relieving Arif Ellahi of the additional charge.
Special secretary home Mudassir Iqbal, ex-PCS (BPS-20), was transferred and posted as secretary general administration, relieving Dr Riaz Ahmed Memon of the additional charge.
Meanwhile, Aftab Ahmed Memon, BPS-20, was posted as secretary of sports and youth affairs department, vice Riaz Ahmed Memon who was transferred and directed to report to the SGA&CD.
Excise and taxation secretary Wasim Ahmed Ursani, BPS-20, was transferred and posted as secretary of the labour and human resources department, reliving Ejaz Ahmed Memon of the additional charge. Mr Ursani will also hold the additional charge of secretary information technology department.