PQA follows PSM precedent

KARACHI: One of the most important ports of the country, Port Qasim Authority (PQA), is now firmly set on the path of the Pakistan Steel Mills (PSM), as directors who do not possess requisite expertise or commercial maritime experience have damaged the capabilities of the organisation.
According to sources, the Director General Operations Jawed Hanif previously served as District Coordination Officer (DCO) of Karachi; a position which did not furnish him with essential know-how on running a port.
Such an appointment at such a vital post exhibits the low priority placed by the authority on the port’s affair.
It has also been indicated to Pakistan Today that the name of Cmdr (r) Azhar was recommended for the DG Operations position earlier this year, but the Ministry did not appoint him despite the fact that he was the director operations and deputy conservator at Gwadar Port.
Similarly, Abdullah Laghari is working as a Director General Technical and he too does not seem to be appropriately placed. He was functioning as DGM Cargo at the port initially; after retirement he was made DG Technical, sources informed Pakistan Today. He is not an engineer but ironically, is the head of all engineers and technical staff at the port, sources indicated. Previously, all DGs in this post hailed from the Pakistan Navy.
Director General Planning and Development Afsar Din Talpur was once the chairman of the authority but a question mark hangs over alleged involvement in corruption, sources claimed, adding that his recent performance has not been exemplary.
Director General Finance Dr Muhammad Khawar Jameel does not possess a background in finance, but is enjoying all the perks of his position, sources maintained.
Similarly, Syed Hasan Abbas Naqvi is Director General Projects and Civil Works and is considered singularly unsuitable for the important role. It is pertinent to mention that he was offered the position of director human resources, but he turned down the offer. He was subsequently appointed in his present capacity despite his lack of relevant experience.
When contacted, the Director General Ports and Shipping and acting Chairman Port Qasim Hassan Zaidi solemnly pledged that the port would not be mired in an unenviable situation like Pakistan Steel Mills and he would speak to the minister in this regard.
He also insisted the ministry wanted to retain the former DG Saeed Qureshi in the DG operations slot but the PM refused to grant any further extension. He acknowledged the overall situation in the government departments is not positive as qualified and skilled people usually prefer to work in the private sector on much higher salaries.
Sources and maritime experts also cast doubt over the selection of Admr (r) Muhammad Shafi as chairman PQA who has no experience of commercial maritime activity; his sole qualification is his Pakistan Navy service. They demanded that the ministry of ports and shipping must appoint professional and qualified personnel in key position and not suffer the fate of PSM.