Ad hocism prevails in Federal Secretariat

ISLAMABAD: At the end of 2023, the bureaucracy at the highest level in the Federal Secretariat has become a victim of ad hocism.

The post of federal secretary in Grade-22 is the highest rank. Out of 41 posts of federal secretary in the ministries and divisions, only 28 Grade-22 officers have been appointed while 11 posts have been filled with Grade-21 officers instead of Grade-22. Two seats are vacant.

According to sources, the reason is that the meeting of Special High Power Selection Board was not held for promotion in Grades 21-22. Two meetings of the board are held under the Promotion Policy. The first board was held in February.

The Establishment Division asked the Election Commission for an NOC for convening the second session. The Election Commission refused because of the caretaker government. Now this meeting will be held in March and till that time the process will remain suspended.

According to sources, at present, regular federal secretaries of Grade-22 appointed in the ministries and divisions include Secretary Aviation Division Saif Anjam, Secretary Cabinet Division Kamran Ali Afzal, Trade Secretary Saleh Ahmed Farooqui, Secretary Defence Lt Gen (retd) Haroon-uz-Zaman, Secretary Defence Production Division Lt Gen (retd.) Humayun Aziz, Secretary Economic Affairs Dr Kazim Niaz, Secretary Establishment Division Inamullah Dharejo, Secretary Finance Division Imdadullah Bosal, Secretary Foreign Affairs Muhammad Cyrus Sajjad Qazi, Secretary Housing and Construction Dr Shahzad Khan Bangash, Secretary Human Rights Division Allah Dino Khawaja, Secretary Information and Broadcasting Shaheera Shahid, Secretary Ministry of IT and Telecom Hassan Nasir Jami, Secretary Interior Aftab Akbar Durrani, Secretary Ministry of Kashmir Affairs Jawad Rafiq Malik, Secretary Ministry of Law and Justice Raja Naeem Akbar, Secretary Maritime Affairs Dr Iram Anjum Khan, Secretary Ministry of Health Iftikhar Ali Shalwani, Secretary Anti-Narcotics Captain (retd) Muneer Azam, Secretary Culture and National Heritage Humair Ahmed, Secretary National Security Division Waqar Ahmed, Secretary Overseas Pakistan Division Zulfiqar Haider, Secretary Planning and Development Awais Manzoor Sumra, Secretary Privatisation Division Jawad Pall, Secretary Science and Technology Ali Raza Bhutta, Secretary Safron Pervaiz Ahmed Junejo, Secretary Poverty Alleviation Division Yusuf Khan and Secretary Water Resources Syed Ali Murtaza.

The post of Secretary Parliamentary Affairs is vacant. The additional charge of Secretary Communication is with the Special Secretary Communication Ali Sher Mehsud. Among the officers of Grade-21 instead of Grade-22 performing their duties as Additional Secretary Incharge in the ministries and divisions are Additional Secretary Incharge Climate Change Asif Haider Shah, Additional Secretary Incharge Ministry of Education Waseem Ajmal Chaudhry, Additional Secretay Incharge Ministry of Industry and Production Asad Rehman Geelani, Additional Secretary Incharge Inter-provincial Coordination Division Ahmed Hanif Orkazai, Additional Secretary Incharge National Food Security Captain (retd) Muhammad Mahmood, Additional Secretary Incharge Petroleum Division Momin Agha, Additional Secretary Incharge Rashid Mahmood, Additional Secretary Incharge Religious Affairs Syed Atta-ur-Rehman, Additional Secretary Incharge Revenue Division Malik Amjad Zubair Tawana, Additional Secretary Incharge Railway Division Syed Mazhar Ali Shah. Syed Atta-ur-Rehman has the look after charge of Secretary Religious Affairs. The incharge of Finance Division (Military) is Additional Secretary Muhammad Aslam Ghauri. According to sources, 20 posts of Grade-22 of various service cadres of federal service are vacant.