MULTAN: The Multan Development Authority (MDA) has rehired the services of the retired staff officer of the MDA director general (DG) in violation of provincial government’s rules for appointment of work- charged employees against a post for which even he does not possess the relevant expertise/experience, Dawn has learnt.

The rehiring case of Muhammad Akram who was to retire on April 14 from the post of assistant director was placed in the MDA’s governing body meeting held in March that as per section 9 of the Punjab Development of Cities Act 1976, the authority may appoint such officers, advisers, experts, consultants and employees as it considers necessary for efficient performance of the functions.

It was proposed that Akram be appointed as adviser from April 14, 2020, to June 30, 2021, for which emoluments and other benefits shall be as permissible to an officer of BS-17 and remuneration as per last pay drawn.

Akram’s last pay was about Rs170,000 while as per schedule of wage rates, 2019 issued by the finance department no officer of such rank could be hired on wage basis (work charge) while even the posts of daily wagers will be advertised in newspapers and daily wage rates given in the schedule prescribe the range within which the competent authority may make an appointment on a daily wage basis in accordance with daily wage rates as notified by the finance department for the respective district.

DG Agha Ali Abbas notified on April 15 the appointment order of his former staff officer as adviser to the DG against the ongoing work of ‘Replacement of out-lived sewerage scheme Phase II Multan (ADP-2019-20)’.

MDA DG Abbas says the governing body of the authority took a decision on item No 19 of the agenda and he only issued orders on work charge basis as per previous presidents of former chief engineer Metro Bus Project Sabir Khan Sadozai and EXEN Khalid (both retired officers on full pay) as ordered by the then MDA director general.

“Wasa managing director has already engaged retired deputy director admin Sabtain on work charge. The appointment has been made because of shortage of staff and on nominal salary while the purpose is to hire an experienced employee till the time more permanent arrangement can be made. The salary will not include emoluments and it has not been finalized so far as governing body has delegated this power to me as well,” he added.

Former chief justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry had taken a firm stance against the reappointment of government officers who had completed service after reaching the age of 60 during the hearing of the Haj corruption case in 2012.

Published in Dawn, May 7th, 2020