ISLAMABAD: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) is holding an inquiry against Pakistan Halal Authority director general (DG) for allegedly scrapping recruitment against a 100 posts from BS-17 to 19.The bureau’s Rawalpindi directorate vide its letter no. NAB (R)/2438/20/CVC/2020 dated Sept 3 intimated the complainant that the matter was in progress.

According to the complainant, Pakistan Halal Authority was established under an Act of Parliament in 2016 to operate under the administrative control of the Minister of Science and Technology.

Approximately 100 posts were approved through the Establishment/Finance divisions in 2016. However, in subsequent months, the authority was completely shelved by the ministry which made no recruitment and instead ran it through temporary arrangements.

In January 2019, a number of posts from BS-17 to 19 were advertised for the first time.

Selection committee had finalised recommendations for hiring in 100 posts of BS-17-19

The applicants paid the mandatory fee of Rs1,000 for each post they applied for and were called for tests on Sept 29, 2019 after a gap of 10 months. The tests were conducted through the National University of Science and Technology (Nust), and accordingly the shortlisted candidates were called for interview in the second week of January 2020 after a period of three months. The interviews were conducted by the Departmental Selection Committee comprising Pakistan Halal Authority director general, director (admin) and senior joint secretary (admin), Ministry of Science and Technology.

The final list of successful candidates duly approved/signed by the committee was forwarded to the science ministry.

In the meantime, the authority’s director general was changed and Akhtar Bughio was appointed as the first regular DG.

Mr Bughio was previously working in the Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority in BPS-19, and without resigning from his earlier post, was appointed Pakistan Halal Authority DG in BPS-21 on April 10.

The recruitment process initiated in January 2019 was completed in one year after the selection committee finalised its recommendations in January 2020. The minutes were reportedly signed and put up before the science and technology secretary.

However, after taking charge, the new director general scrapped the entire recruitment process which had been completed in 18 months. The complainant alleged that the process was terminated to recruit ‘favoured’ officers.

He questioned “how can a transparent selection process which involves screening/written tests conducted by Nust and interviews conducted by the Departmental Selection Committee of Pakistan Halal Authority be nullified without giving solid reasons”.

Thousands of applicants applied for the aforementioned posts after payment of Rs,1000 each, the complainant said, asking where the money went and who was responsible for the financial loss incurred in the recruitment process.

The complainant alleged that this was not only a clear example of favouritism but also a loss to the national exchequer with no one held accountable.

When contacted, Pakistan Halal Authority Director General Akhtar Bughio said NAB had yet not issued him any call-up notice therefore he was not aware of the details of the complaint.

He expressed his displeasure for calling him on his mobile number and insisted that he be contacted during working hours on Monday.

Published in Dawn, October 4th, 2020