Health ministry appoints official to non-existent post

ISLAMABAD: Federal Health Minister Syed Mustafa Kamal has appointed an individual as “Director General to Health Minister”—a position that does not exist in the official structure of the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations & Coordination (NHSR&C).

The appointment of Ayaz Mustafa, which has no legal basis within the ministry’s sanctioned organogram, is being described by senior officials as both ‘irregular and deeply disturbing’.

Senior officials within the ministry confirm that Ayaz Mustafa, who holds Grade 19 status as a Senior Research Officer at the Health Research Institute (HRI) under the National Institute of Health (NIH), has not only been posted on a fictitious post equivalent to Grade 20, but his selection has invoked Section 10 of the Civil Servants Act—a provision that does not apply in this case, given that the position does not formally exist.

The development comes just weeks after Health Minister Mustafa Kamal had initially appointed Imran Ali alias Tipu, as his staff officer. However, Tipu was swiftly removed within 24 hours following uproar from ministry officials

Federal Health Minister Mustafa Kamal was sent a detailed questionnaire via WhatsApp for his version but did not respond. Ministry spokesperson Syed Sajid Hussain Shah confirmed that the queries were forwarded to the minister, but no response was received even after three days despite repeated follow-ups.