Management Position scale: Laws to be altered to attract talent from private sector

ISLAMABAD: The federal government has decided to alter existing laws impeding attracting talent from the private sector in Management Position (MP) scale as presently only bureaucrats are eyeing such positions, well informed sources told Business Recorder. The decision was taken at a recent meeting of federal cabinet when summary of Ministry of Planning, Development and Special Initiatives for hiring of three members was under discussion. The Cabinet was informed that in terms of Section-18 of the General Statistics (Reorganization) Act 2011, the Federal Government on recommendation of Chief Statistician may appoint Functional Members of Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS). It was further informed that the posts of Members (MP-II) were advertised to invite applications from professionals fulfilling the criteria. Applications received for the vacancies were shortlisted by a committee. For member National Accounts, out of 20 applications 6 were shortlisted, for member, Census and Survey, 4 were shortlisted and for member, Economics and Statistics 8 were shortlisted. Composition of the Selection Board was as notified by the Establishment Division for hiring professionals in Management Position (MP) scales. Dr Ishrat Hussain, Advisor to the Prime Minister on Institutional Reforms was co-opted for interviews of the shortlisted candidates. The Selection Board, recommended, Dr Bahrawar Jan as Member National Accounts and Ayyaz -ud-Din as Census and Surveys. For the position of Member (Economics and Statistics), Selection Board did not find any suitable candidate. Therefore, the post may be re-advertised to attract dynamic and vibrant candidates for the position. The Secretary PD&SI Division, who was also holding the additional charge of Chief Statistician, PBS, in terms of section 18(1) of the Act of 2011 ibid, recommended the panel of candidates short-listed by the Selection Board for appointment as Members, PBS at initial stage of MP II Scale along with usual increase as made by Government from time to time. Planning, Development & Special Initiatives Division proposed that the candidates recommended by the Selection Board and also recommended by the Chief Statistician may be considered by the Cabinet for appointment as Members (MP-II) Scale for a period of four years from the date of joining or till attaining the age of sixty-five years whichever is earlier. It was also proposed that in case the Principal candidate fails to join the position for any reason whatsoever, within 15- days from the date of issuance of offer letter, the candidate recommended as Alternate-I may be offered the position. During the ensuing discussion, the members observed that both the recommended candidates were government servants, while MP scales were introduced for attracting professionals from the private sector. Adviser to the Prime Minister on Institutional Reforms and Austerity, Dr Ishrat Hussain who was part of the Selection Committee, stated that the recommendations had been made purely on merit and the talent from the private sector could not be attracted merely through local advertisements. The members were of the view that experts in the field usually do not respond to advertisements and it was through headhunting that such talent could be roped in; unfortunately, the existing laws don't allow appointments through headhunting or international advertisements. The Prime Minister directed the Adviser to the Prime Minister on Institutional Reforms and Austerity to identify the factors impeding the process of attracting competent professionals from private sector, and present the recommendations in the next meeting. Reference was also made to bringing about required changes in the Companies' Act, Corporate Governance Rules, and if need be the Estacode. Minister for Law and the Establishment Division would assist the Adviser to the Prime Minister on Institutional Reforms and Austerity in the exercise. "Prime Minister has directed amendments in the relevant laws/rules/regulations /policy/instructions in each case," the sources added. Experts in the private sector are of the view that people in the government with vested interests manage to remove upright and competent leadership/ management and appoint dummy and compromised leadership to get their vested interests served. "This has been a regular practice of political masters of the time and bureaucrats fully facilitate and support such practices by taking additional charges of senior management posts in the government entities," said one of affectees' political and bureaucratic connivance. He further contended that the government asks the same bureaucrats to investigate the wrongdoings who are actually complicit.