In addition to earlier existing look-after charges given to CEO, the Engineering Development Board (EDB) for over two years without ratification or appointment by the Cabinet including stopgap arrangements yet another look-after charge notification has been issued by the MoI&P.
Talking to Business Recorder, Prime Minister's Advisor on Commerce, Textile, Industries and Production and Investment, Abdul Razak Dawood asserted that intellect level and capacity of officials has deteriorated, adding that he is looking for suitable heads of organisations.
According to an order of the MoI&P of August 9, 2019, the Ministry's order of August 7, 2019 regarding authorization to Zahidur Rehman Mughal, Company Secretary PIDC to look after the affairs of PIDC as CEO is withdrawn with immediate effect.
Rizwan Ahmed Bhatti, Chief Executive Officer, National Industrial Parks Development and Management Company (NIP), is authorized to look after the affairs of PIDC as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) with immediate effect for a period of three months or till the appointment of regular CEO, PIDC, whichever is earlier.
The position of CEO, PIDC has been advertised, in which Rizwan Bhatti is also an applicant for the position. It will take considerable time before the appointment matures to the level of approval by Cabinet. The existing procedure in appointment of CEO will involve short listing of candidates including of/by Rizwan Bhatti himself. He is also CEO of National Industrial Parks, subsidiary company of PIDC.
The period from advertisement to the appointment of CEO by Cabinet will take months and the present notification protects an unlimited time period as it specifies that it will continue till the appointment of new CEO, PIDC.
"This is clear violation of Cabinet directives by the MoI&P given in respect of appointment of CEOs. Nobody can be appointed CEO for whatever period even including additional charge assigned to bureaucracy without sending it to the Cabinet as the prerogative of appointing CEO is with Federal Government and not the MoI&P, wherein Federal government means the Cabinet not the Prime Minister or Minister or Secretary of the Ministry," the sources added.
The additional violation which the MoI&P has committed is that it has not considered that the appointment of CEO, PIDC may attract conflict of interest. Public Sector Companies Rule 2013, the fit and proper criteria refer to exclusion from conflict of interest in becoming ex-officio director such as CEOs of Public Sector Companies.
The situation in National Fertilizer Corporation (NFC) and Smeda is almost similar. CEO of NFC has been removed on the basis of wrong rules and now the Ministry of Industries and Production is making efforts to get a corrigendum issued with the approval of Prime Minister's office. His clash with the advisor started in Doha (Qatar).
CEO Smeda was removed in haste after an "informal out of court agreement." The post of CEO EDB has been lying vacant for more than two years and a General Manager occupies it. He also has been assigned to continue at the post of CEO without the approval of Prime Minister and Cabinet; and he is also an applicant for the post of CEO, EDB.
The MoI&P has not reviewed the fact that CEO, the EDB is a MP-1 position, equivalent to grade 22 whereas the incumbent CEO is a General Manager equivalent to grade 20. It is a clear violation of provisions of ESTACODE Sr. No. 121 of Chapter II, Paragraph 3, Chapter II Sr. No. 117, Paragraph 3 and Chapter II Sr. No. 1 Part-II (referring to assigning current charge not more than the period beyond six months and additional charge or current charge, should not be made for a period of less than one month and should not exceed three months).
In July, 2018, the caretaker Minister for Commerce and Industries had moved a summary for removal of Nasir Baig from the post of CEO EDB, due to various reported mismanagements but no action was taken due to what appears to be affiliation with the MoI&P.
