Population dept official posted as capital DHO

ISLAMABAD: The federal health ministry has promoted a deputy district population welfare officer as District Health Officer (DHO) Islamabad after the Establishment Division declined any further extension to former DHO Dr Muhammad Zaeem Zia, it emerged on Wednesday.

According to a notification issued by the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations & Coordination (NHSR&C), the Departmental Promotion Committee (DPC), in its meeting held on January 20, 2025, recommended the promotion of Dr Syeda Rashida Batool, a Deputy District Population Welfare Officer (Technical) and Medical Officer (BPS-18/placement), to the position of DHO Islamabad (BPS-18), effective January 29, 2025.

However, a subsequent notification issued on January 21 directed all medical officers serving in the District Health Office Islamabad to submit their duly filled and signed Performance Evaluation Reports (PERs) along with their Master of Public Health (MPH) degrees for consideration in an upcoming DPC meeting. The contradiction between these two notifications has raised concerns among officials within the ICT health department.

“These two notifications by the health ministry clearly indicate the mala fide intentions of ministry officials. How can a person be promoted on January 20, while, at the same time, the ministry issued instructions for evaluating officers for future promotions to the same post?” a senior official in the ICT health department questioned.

Notified recruitment rules, currently in force, categorically state that the post of DHO is a 100 per cent promotion-based position, to be filled from among medical officers of the health department with at least five years of experience as a medical officer and a qualification in public health.

However, records indicate that the promoted officer was initially recruited as an instructor and is currently serving as a Deputy District Population Welfare Officer. She does not possess a single day of experience as a medical officer yet securing promotion to the post of DHO, in clear violation of the rules.

Health experts and ministry officials have stressed that the position should be filled by a qualified public health professional with a strong track record in disease control, emergency response and healthcare administration. They argue that the DPC’s decision-making process lacks transparency and should be reviewed to ensure merit-based appointments.

The controversy follows the Establishment Division’s decision to reject any further deputation extension for Dr Zaeem Zia, who had been serving as DHO Islamabad since February, 2020.

The appointment of Dr Syeda Rashida Batool as DHO Islamabad has sparked criticism due to concerns about her background and suitability for the role. As a Deputy District Population Welfare Officer, she was primarily involved in family planning initiatives rather than the broader public health administration required for the DHO position.

When contacted, a senior official of the NHSR&C defended the appointment of DHO Islamabad, saying she was the “most senior and deserving candidate” to be promoted to the position. The official, who requested not to be named, said there was no other competent and deserving person than Dr Batool at the health department of ICT to be appointed as DHO Islamabad.