ISLAMABAD: The federal government is likely to appoint National Engineering Services Pakistan (NESPAK) consultant Mehr Ali Shah as new the Indus Water Commissioner.
The tenure of former Indus Water commissioner Mirza Asif Baig expired on January 10, 2018. Documents available with Pakistan Today stated that the Ministry of Water Resources has proposed the name of Joint Secretary (Water) Mehr Ali Shah to the prime minister for the said post.
Given the fact that the important positions of Pakistan Commissioner for Indus Waters (PCIW) cannot be left vacant, a recourse has been made to consider assigning duties of the vacant position current charge basis in accordance with the Civil Establishment Code (ESTA Code).
The matter has been examined at length and has been considered to propose that charge of the post of PCIW be given as a stop-gap arrangement to Syed Muhammad Mehar Ali Shah, the incumbent Joint Secretary (water) in addition to his current duties in the ministry, the documents stated.
They further indicated that the ministry has not considered the name of the senior-most officer Sheraz Jameel Memon, the additional commissioner for Indus Water (BS-20). They said Memon cannot be considered for promotion for the reasons recorded in Para-2/ante, besides non-availability of his PERs/services record.
Pursuant the directions of the prime minister, contained in para 16/ante, so far some shortlisted officers from attached departments of the Ministry of Water and Resources have been intervened and nominations from the various water sector organisation in the country, including WAPDA, provincial irrigation departments and NESPAK, are being obtained for proposing a panel of suitable eligible officers for posting against the post of the PCIW.
Concurrently, a request has been made to the Establishment Division for processing the case to fill the post in accordance with the recruitment rules of the post.
A senior officer on anonymity told Pakistan Today that Mehr Ali Shah was a consultant to the NESPAK and working on deputation in Ministry of Water Resources for the last three years. In addition to this, Mehr, as a joint secretary, failed to prepare the first water policy of the country as no consensus was developed in the Council of Common Interest.
Federal Minister for Water Resources Syed Javed Ali Shah stated that Mehr is the most capable person for this job so that’s why the high-ups decided to utilise his services, adding that the said person has also attended meetings between India and Pakistan on various issues pertaining to the Indus Water Treaty.
