Whereas the Sindh government is claiming merit-based appointment of officials, the lower-grade employees have been appointed as Secretaries of Regional Transport Authority (RTA) in several districts of the province, Business Recorder learnt on Saturday.
According to sources, the post of Secretary of District Regional Transport Authority is a BPS-17 post, and the appointment of employees of lower cadre causes mismanagement and poor performance of transport system, and puts extra burden on the national exchequer.
Sources said that a schoolteacher of Arabic, Soefan Shah, has been performing duties as Secretary of DRTA, Sukkur, for last couple of years, which increased corruption besides resulting in poor performance of transport system in the district. It is believed that the functioning of regional transport office in district Sukkur has come to a halt and the officials are involved in minting money only, adding woes to miseries of citizens instead of ensuring better travelling facilities.
Similarly, an official of BPS-14 of the Population Welfare Department is working as Secretary of DRTA in Mirpur Khas on deputation for last two years. However, the problems of common people remain unresolved due to negligence of the concerned staff, which has been busy in taking bribe from transporters, sources said.
Further, Bashir Hussain Mirjat, a computer operator of BPS-16, who was appointed on contract of one year in the Water Management Wing of the Agriculture Department, has been performing duties in the Transport Department as Secretary, DRTA, Thatta in violation of all rules and regulations of the Sindh government, they said.
Sources said that on September 30, 2009, the Services & General Administration Department had, vide notification No SOV(S&GAD)X-554/09, cancelled appointment of Bashir Hussain, Computer Operator (BPS-16), Water Management Wing, Agriculture Department, who was working in the Transport Department on deputation basis, and directed him to report to Agriculture Department with immediate effect.
After suspension of the services, Sindh Minister for Transport Akhtar Hussain Jadoon had forwarded a letter to Chief Secretary Sindh Fazal-ur-Rehman, requesting for continuation of services of Bashir Hussain Mirjat as Secretary RTA in the transport department. A copy of the letter is available with Business Recorder.
The letter read: "After bifurcation of the Transport Department, Government of Sindh from Labour, Industries and Commerce Department, there is acute shortage of well experienced/qualified staff in the Transport Department therefore the services of Bashir Hussain Mirjat were requisitioned by the undersigned from Agriculture Department, Government of Sindh through Services, General Administration and Co-ordination Department.
"The transport department posted him as Secretary RTA Thatta against the newly sanctioned vacant post. He showed very good performance during his posting. I have directed the administrative department to regularise his services against the post of Secretary RTA in Transport Department as he is highly qualified, young man, competent and penstaking officer therefore he deserves induction in transport department keeping in view his blotless service record and best past performance. "In the light of above facts you are therefore, requested to kindly order withdrawal the above mentioned notification and the services of Bashir Hussain be regularised and placed with the Transport Department on regular basis."
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