PESHAWAR, Dec 22: The provincial health department is allegedly pressuring the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) to appoint a close relative of a health official as provincial coordinator for its project entitled “Micronutrient Initiative”.

“(The) CIDA has appointed a doctor, but the NWFP government wants to get his services terminated and instead appoint a person who is not qualified for the post,” sources said. The NWFP health department, the CIDA and the World Food Programme have launched the Universal Salt Iodisation (USI) programme in 29 districts of the country, including five districts of the NWFP, with the objective of achieving 80 per cent salt iodisation by 2010.

The CIDA had advertised for the posts of coordinators in the NWFP, Punjab, Sindh, AJK and Balochistan on April 28.

A doctor working as an assistant director (nutrition) in the health department had applied through proper channels for the post and the CIDA had appointed him as its provincial director for the NWFP after due process and as per the selection criteria.

He joined the CIDA on Aug 16. He left the health department with proper permission through letter 19605/E-I on Aug 17. However, the health department issued a letter to the CIDA for withdrawal of his services, without mentioning reasons.

He was asked to rejoin the department, threatening him with disciplinary action if he did not, under the Removal from Service Ordinance, 2002. An absence notice was served on him on Aug 22.

The doctor obtained a stay order from the Peshawar High Court that suspended the order issued by the health department and asked it to submit comments on Aug 24.