ISLAMABAD: The Ministry of National Health Services (NHS) is likely to send a summary to the caretaker government for appointing the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan’s (Drap) chief executive officer, after a lapse of around five months.
The government, in the first week of March, issued a belated advertisement for the seat of Drap CEO, a post which will remain under temporary arrangement till the appointment of a permanent head. Drap’s first ever permanent head, Dr Mohammad Aslam, retired on Feb 1, 2018, after which, the acting charge of the post was given to a Drap officer, Sheikh Akhtar Hussain, through an office order.
In May, the ministry selected three candidates from a list of 20 applications received for the post and also announced that a security clearance of the candidates will be done. These candidates include Dr Zakaur Rehman, Asim Rauf and Sheikh Akhtar Hussain.
However, a permanent head could not be appointed till date.
Drap’s policy board is chaired by the secretary NHS and has 15 members. There are also six technical expert members on the board including retired Maj Gen Prof Salman Ali, Prof Dr Abdul Salaam, Prof Abdul Bari, Abdul Latif Sheikh, Prof Dr Zafar Iqbal and Irshad Hussain.