In what could be dubbed a clear example of favouritism, as efforts are afoot to appoint a blued-eyed doctor of National Institute of Rehabilitation and Medicine (NIRM) hospital as joint secretary in Capital Administration and Development Division (CADD).

The CADD ministry wrote to the NIRM that the services of Dr Shaista Habibullah are required as Joint Secretary (BS-20) in CADD on deputation basis.

According to the memorandum, a copy of which is available with Pakistan Today, it states “The undersigned is directed to refer to the subject noted above and to state that services of Director NIRM Dr Shaista Habibullah (BS-19); as institute working under the administrative control of this division are required by this division for her posting as Joint Secretary (H&SW) on deputation basis under section 10 of Civil Servants Act, 1973.”

“It is, therefore, requested that the services of Director NIRM Shaista Habibullah may please be placed at the disposal of CADD for appointment as Joint Secretary (BS-20) on standard norms and conditions of deputation under Section 10 of Civil Servants Act, 1973,” the memorandum reads.

A senior official said that it was not a purely bureaucratic post and there was no restriction, as anyone could be posted as joint secretary; however, it is good if grades are equivalent to a post where the person is posted.

The official said that since joint secretary is a 20 grade post; however an officer of 19 grade could be appointed with one grade up on the post.

“However, joint secretary is a management and administrative post and an administrator could be posted; however, posting a doctor on such an important post would be surprising if he/she had no prior relevant experience, as a person must have management experience of at least 15 years,” the official added.

It is a senior post, which holds executive authority and key role in the ministry; hence one should have a vast experience of rules, regulation and management.

The official said that join secretary’s inputs is of paramount importance in proposal making and chalking out future plans, however, posting an official with only technical experience, having no administrative experience would be catastrophic.

He lamented that it was quite unfortunate that people with no relevant experience even got the appointment on important positions due to nepotism in the bureaucratic structure.