GM appointed to Daanish authority ‘against criteria’

Authority says it’s ad hoc appointment; confirms
criteria revised for want of competent professionals

lahore

Punjab Daanish Schools and Centres of Excellency Authority has appointed General Manager (Engineering) who does not meet the criteria required for the post in 2015, The News has learnt.

The authority had advertised slot of GM engineering in 2015 with criteria of upper age limit to 60 years at least 25 years civil construction works.

However, according to the documents available with The News, on September 18, 2015, a meeting of selection board of PDS&CE Authority held comprising its members of core group, Maj (R) Abdul Rehman Rana and  Shama Aleem, Col (R) Ehtsham Anwer, the then MD/CEO of the Authority, and Col (R) Junaid Shamim. During the meeting, three short-listed candidates, including Muhammad Safdar Ali Kahloon, Engr Imran Rashid and Jamil Ahmed appeared for interview for the slot of GM Engineering. 

It is pertinent to mention here that on July 12, 2016, Punjab CM, who maintains check on his brainchild project, had sacked Col (R) Ehtsham Anwar owing to poor performance of Daanish Schools. 

Surprisingly, the authority appointed Muhammad Suleman in November 2015 as GM engineering out of nowhere as he was not short-listed for interview earlier. According to documents submitted by Muhammad Suleman to the Authority, he was born on May 24, 1952, retired from Military Engineering Services (MES) as an Assistant Engineer. He was hired by the Authority in 2015 on ad hoc basis. 

Later, the Authority re-advertised the same slot in June 2016. Condition of service in BPS-20 was relaxed and age limit was extended from 60 years to 63 years.

The last date for filing of application for slot of GM Engineering was June 27, 2016. On June 27, Muhammad Suleman was 64 years and one month old. The sources in the PDS&CE said the authority neither called any applicant for interview nor short-listed any. 

When contacted, Lt-Col (r) Jawad Ahmed Malik Manager (Admin/HR&Coord) of Daanish Authority said Muhammad Suleman was working on ad hoc basis but he had not been awarded any contract so far. “Suleman Ahmed had already appeared in interview to the selection board previously” he said.

When asked about the date of his interview Jawad said last year according to first advertisement. If the authority is going to consider Suleman or any other candidate for interview in a similar criteria it has re-advertised the slot, Jawad had no answer. Moreover, he confirmed that neither any candidate had been called for interview yet, nor short-listed. Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif in 2014 had approved Daanish Schools projects of Taunsa, Chakwal, Shorkot, Tandlianwala and Peer Mahal. But despite passage of two years, even the designs of the projects have not been completed. 

Moreover, extension in boarding and residence facility of seven/fourteen schools, including Hasilpur, DG Khan, Mianwali, Attock, Chishtian, Hasilpur and Rahimyar Khan (Boys & Girls) was approved by the government but the progress is slow due to which students are suffering as a room meant for two students is now accommodating four or more students.