Health ministry special secy transferred

ISLAMABAD: The services of Special Secretary Health Mirza Nasir-ud-Din Mashhood Ahmad, a BS-22 officer of the Secretariat Group, have been surrendered to the Establishment Division.

This comes after the ministry was also relieved of its Secretary Health, Nadeem Mahbub, leaving the ministry’s top two bureaucratic positions vacant at a time of critical public health challenges.

According to an official memorandum issued on May 23, approved by the Federal Minister for Health, the services of Mirza Nasir-ud-Din Mashhood Ahmad “are no more required” in the Ministry and he has been placed at the disposal of the Establishment Division for further posting. The ministry of health now operates without both its Secretary and Special Secretary.

An earlier notification issued on May 22 confirms that Laeeq Ahmad, a BS-20 officer, has assumed charge of Additional Secretary (BS-21) under Section 10 of the Civil Servants Act, 1973, but this is seen as a temporary patch.

Sources in the Establishment Division told The News that several BS-22 officers have are reluctant to join the health ministry.

It is also learnt that transfer of Dr. Shabana Saleem, Director General (Health) is also in the pipeline.