KARACHI: Seemingly, if a senior officer retires from a senior position in Sindh, he puts up all efforts to get his front-man/blue-eyed officer as his replacement. Similarly, the same is the case with retiring Sindh Fisheries Department (FD) Director General who is said to be trying to get his front-man as his replacement, it was learned on Monday.
The sources told Pakistan Today that Director General Fisheries Ghulam Mohammad Mahar retired on May 7, 2018, however, few days before his retirement, the DG with the help minister’s staff floated a new summary for giving his front-man namely Khawar Pervez Awan an additional charge of the DG post.
Currently, Hyderabad Technical Officer (BS-19) Khawar Pervez Awan is posted as Additional Secretary (Technical) BS-20 upon his promotion in the month of February 2018. Interestingly, now a summary has been forwarded to the Services Secretary to allow him with an additional charge of Fisheries DG, bypassing all the officers who are on waiting list to get a promotion to the next higher grade.
According to sources, the Rules of Business of the Sindh government clearly states that no officer can be given immediate transfer and post or even additional charge till completion of at least one year time period on the promoted post.
According to a notification NO SO-II/L&F/Sr.List (BS-19)/7(23)/2017 which stated: In pursuance of Rule 9(1) of Sindh Civil Servant (Probation, Confirmation and Seniority) Rules 1975, Mrs Rukhsana Asghar, MSc, MS (USA) is the senior most officer amongst six others of the fisheries department who are waiting for their due promotion to BS-20.
According to sources, retiring Fisheries DG Ghulam Mahar with the help of Khawar Pervez Awan had utilized around Rs14.83 million on the purchase of unnecessary items for surveillance of coastal waters and lakes to improve productivity and enhance the availability of fish.
Interestingly, the Karachi region which has more than 129 kilometres of the coastal belt has received the petty share of just Rs 0.7 million. It was alleged that the then Director Fisheries, Inland, Hyderabad Khawar Pervez Awan in connivance with the Director General Fisheries Ghulam Mohammad Mahar bypassed Director Fisheries, Rukhsana and utilized whole funds at their own.
Pakistan Today repeatedly tried to approach Secretary Livestock and Fisheries Baqaullah Ulnar for his official version, however, his cellphone remained unattended the whole day.
Interestingly, FD is not the only department where it is happening. In the year 2013, Sindh Assembly former secretary Hadi Bux Buriro handed over the charge of secretary to his son who was appointed by him.
