This has reference to the news item, which appeared in your esteemed newspaper on Saturday, 25th November, 2006. We would like to clarify certain facts, which were incorrectly mentioned in your news item:
The EOBI Board of Trustees (BOT) in its 74th meeting held on 28th September 2005 observed that the existing hierarchy of the IT Department lacked the professional capability to execute the envisaged IT solution for modernisation of EOBI systems. To cater for the futuristic needs the BOT directed the hiring of a Project Director on contract basis from the market for a maximum period of two years.
EOBI in pursuance of BOT decision advertised the position of Project Director in leading newspapers on 30th October 2005 and the following procedure was adopted to ensure transparency in the selection.
The received applications were thoroughly scrutinised with the assistance of outsider IT experts from the private sector and ten candidates were short-listed for interview.
EOBI Departmental Selection Committee, comprising Director General supervising IT Department, Head of HR Department, Head of IT Department and two outsider IT experts from private sector with vast experience in the field, interviewed the short listed candidates. The Committee recommended two candidates after thoroughly interviewing each and every candidate.
The two recommended candidates were thereafter interviewed by an IT expert presently associated with the Federal Government at Islamabad. He recommended Mr Haider Raza being the most suitable for the post of Project Director keeping in view the Project Management requirements of EOBI.
Keeping in view the project assignment, the outsider IT experts were requested to suggest an appropriate market based compensation package. On the basis of the same the package was negotiated and settled with Mr Haider Raza, the selected candidate for Project Director.
The reference to the package approved by the BOT in the said news item is misleading, since that package related to employees taken on contract against existing vacancies and entitled to other fringe benefits. Whereas, the Project Director has been employed against a specially created post for a specific assignment and time period on a compensation package, which commensurate with the market was approved.
He is being paid a lump sum salary without any other benefits and the duration of the contract is one year, extendable to another year in case his services are so required.
The alleged list of candidates mentioning experience and qualification are concocted and a figment of the reporter's imagination. It is further clarified that the package of serving DDGs in the Organisation is around Rs 80,000/- not Rs 25,000/- as stated in your story.
The said story is biased and concocted, which has been fed by disgruntled elements to serve their own cause/ interest. These elements are mostly incompetent, employed through back doors during previous regimes.
They are now finding it difficult to survive in an environment where professional competence is required. "There is a concerted campaign against Mr Haider Raza by elements who do not want to see the organisation change for the better."
Mr Haider Raza is a highly qualified professional with wide experience. He has worked abroad and is foreign qualified. He was recommended by well known IT consultants and was appointed on merit through a transparent procedure. He is hired so as to introduce and implement the IT culture in the organisation, which unfortunately does not exist at the moment.
It is painful to read such news, wherein an Institution which is striving hard to bring in transparency and rule of law in all dealings of the Institution is accused of not following the rules, without any verification or clarification sought from the Institution.
Responsible journalism demands that such facts prior to their publication are verified from the concerned organisation. We would appreciate if this clarification is also given similar space to set the record straight.
(The writer is Deputy Director General (HR))
Comments
Comments are closed.