DRAP gets acting chief

Islamabad: The Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination has made Dr Sheikh Akhtar Hussain, the acting chief executive officer of the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) though he faces corruption a National Accountability Bureau corruption inquiry.

Dr Sheikh Akhtar, an additional director (BPS-19) at the DRAP, has been given the charge of the CEO office (BPS-21) on the 'look after basis to despite of its day-to-day business.' According to an office order issued by the ministry, he will stay put until the top DRAP office gets a regular posting.

The development comes following the expiry of the three-year employment contract of Dr Muhammad Aslam Afghani as the DRAP chief on Feb 2. Dr Sheikh Akhtar has gone from being a dark horse to the front-runner in the presence of senior and more eligible contenders from within the organisation, including director (drugs control) Shaikh Faqeer Muhammad, director (medical devices and medicated cosmetics) Noor Muhammad Shah and additional director, Lahore, Asim Rauf.

Last year, the health services ministry, which has the administrative control of the DRAP, began an inquiry into a complaint that Dr Sheikh Akhtar got himself declared dead to block proceedings against him under the two NAB references about the embezzlement of over Rs 50 million funds.  However, the fate of inquiry is not known.