ED declines extension for DHO Islamabad

ISLAMABAD: The Establishment Division has informed the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination that Dr Muhammad Zaeem Zia, currently serving as district health officer (DHO) Islamabad, cannot be granted any further extension on deputation under the Civil Servants (Appointment, Promotion and Transfer) Rules, 1973.

Officials in the Health Ministry told The News that the Establishment Division cited relevant rules mandating that a deputed officer must be repatriated to his parent department for at least one year before being eligible for deputation again. 

Dr Zia has been serving in his current role since February 2020, which exceeds the standard deputation tenure, necessitating his repatriation to the Gilgit-Baltistan Health Department. 

He was initially transferred from Gilgit-Baltistan as deputy director in the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination on deputation and posted as DHO Islamabad by the ministry.

According to the ministry officials, the DHO Islamabad position is a promotion-based post, and qualified officers from within the District Health Office should ideally be promoted to this role when it becomes vacant. 

However, Dr Zia’s appointment was made on deputation, allegedly due to political pressure from certain quarters. They said that owing to these pressures, the ministry had written to the Establishment Division to explore the possibility of extending Dr Zia’s deputation. 

However, the Establishment Division turned down the request, stating that it was not permissible under the rules. During his tenure as DHO Islamabad, Dr Zia played a pivotal role in leading the Covid-19 pandemic response in the capital. 

He supervised critical activities under the District Health Office, including the Expanded Program on Immunization, dengue control efforts, drug licencing and regulation, procurement, administration, development projects, and the Universal Health Coverage Unit. 

Prior to his posting in Islamabad, he served as district health officer for Hunza and Nagar districts in Gilgit-Baltistan from January 2019 to January 2020. His extensive experience and leadership during public health emergencies have been recognized within the health sector. 

Despite these achievements, the ministry officials believe that following the rules governing deputation is crucial to maintaining the integrity of the civil service. 

With the Establishment Division’s decision, the health ministry will now have to proceed with appointing a new DHO for Islamabad, either by promoting an eligible officer from within the District Health Office or through other mechanisms as per the rules.