ISLAMABAD: Ministry of Industries and Production (MIP) has opted to abstain from speaking up regarding the ‘illegal’ actions taking place in the Engineering Development Board (EDB).
EDB, which is already under the scanner of the Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi due to corruption reasons, well-informed sources said according to a report in Business Recorder.
According to details available, Additional Secretary in-charge Mian Asad Haya-ud-Din is interested in getting a regular CEO designated at EDB, after approval of a summary by the PM, in case he decided to reverse his earlier decision of disbanding the entity due to rampant corruption.
Sources told of the present position at EDB, the post of CEO fell vacant after abdication by ex-CEO Tariq Ejaz in end of March 2017. Then MIP designated the post of CEO to Nasir Baig, General Manager on a temporary basis in April 2017.
The sources said the temporary CEO since the last one year was a grade D-III officer who is holding a post reserved for MP-1 scale post. The posting of Mr. Baig is in violation of Estacode rules.
Estacode rulings permit posting on current/additional charge and in case of an empty post in a higher grade, posting is made on acting charge basis, told sources.
According to Estacode rulings, there is no provision for appointment on a look-after basis. The sources said the acting-CEO was vesting all financial and administrative powers illegally which were only reserved for a permanent CEO.
Over one year has passed, but the ministry has failed in appointing a permanent CEO and management of EDB is being operated under an illegal arrangement.
And a joint secretary of MIP is said to be utilizing an EDB car due to his closeness with an officer, who runs an auto sector business.
Furthermore, the sources warned the illegal appointment of Mr. Baig could be challenged in a court of law, as happened in the case of previous CEO’s in 2012 and 2016. They added this could also attract an audit objection.
They further shared that serious complaints had been raised against the acting EDB CEO regarding his behavior, ill-treatment and harassment of staff.
