JHANG City News

CM takes note of DO (E&IP) post lying vacant for 5 years
From Our Correspondent
JHANG: Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has directed industries department’s secretary to look into the issue of post of district officer, Enterprises and Investment Promotion (E&IP), lying vacant for the past five years, and holding of the additional charge by an official during this period.
Consumer Rights Protection Society (CRPS) President Dr Zafar Iqbal, through a representation, informed the Punjab CM that working and performance of the district price control committee, pricing of commodities and establishment of a permanent CM’s Sasta Bazaar had been hampered in the district because of the post of DO (E&IP), which is lying vacant for the last five years.
He disclosed in his letter that DO (E&IP) was notified by the government as secretary of the district price control committee and was responsible for implementation of the government policies about pricing of commodities. He pointed out that the DO (E&IP) was also notified as the registrar of societies’ registration with the district government, who was also responsible for ensuring registration of mosques, seminaries and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) etc.
The CRPS president said the charge of the important post of DO (E&IP) was entrusted to a contractual system network administrator (SNA) as dual charge. The complainant said for implementation of the government’s action plan to root out terrorism, it was decided that seminaries across the province would registered immediately.
But plan could not be implemented effectively in the district as the post of the DO (E&IP) is lying vacant and the additional charge of the post has been entrusted to the SNA, a contractual official during the rule of former chief minister Punjab Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi.
The designated duty of the SNA was to complete computer networking in the offices of districts of Jhang and Bhakkar. He was supposed to stay in Jhang for three days and in Bhakkar for four days every week, he added. The completion of computer networking in the departments could not be completed and the project was ended by the government three years ago.
The complainant said another post of computer programmer in the DCO office was created and recruitment was completed, but the SNA was also allowed to continue his job without any designated work.
Additional Secretary to CM Punjab Muhammad Ali Ammer, vide directive No AS(D)CMO/15/OT-47/ 069070, advised the Punjab industries secretary that the CM has taken notice of the issue and ordered for submission of an urgent report for an appropriate action.
The officiating district officer (E&IP), SNA Shehzad Khalil, claims that the district government authorities are satisfied with his performance and that is why he has been allowed to continue his job as the SNA, along with the additional charge of DO (E&IP).