The Ministry of Production has advised Chief Executive Officer of National Industrial Parks Development and Management Company to stop working till the completion of inquiries relating to "in-subordination" and "misappropriation" of funds against him.
Minister for Production had directed his Secretary to take "appropriate action (Removal) against Zubair Habib, CEO, NIP, and constitute high-level committee to probe into irregularities and suggest course of action."
In his letter of March 6, the Minister had pointed out that he had been receiving complaints from parliamentarians and other notables of the community from time to time, regarding misappropriation of funds and ill planning of establishing industrial parks by NIP, a subsidiary company of PIDC.
During his visit to Karachi, he had physically inspected the projects of NIP ie Bin Qasim and Korangi Creek and found the development work "unsatisfactory with poor progress." Ministry of Production in its letter of September 25 on the subject of "insubordination, non-compliance of the directives" invited Zubair Habib's attention to its earlier letter of September 18 informing him that since the agenda of the 33rd Board meeting is of significance importance involving financial matters of the company requiring detailed examination before the meeting and it will not be possible to deliberate the same in the meeting as the working paper was not received in time. He was, therefore, advised to restrict the meeting to single agenda ie inquiry in the affairs of the NIP as decided in the 32nd Board meeting.
It was further pointed out that the advise of the Ministry in its letter of September 19 to postpone the meeting as September 21 was declared public holiday and may be held on next working day, was also ignored and Zubair Habib convened the meeting. "Your subordination is not only limited to the above directives but you failed to comply with the directives of the Minister communicated on September 18 and did not extend the invitation to the IFC General Manager who was to represent the Minister for Production as observer in all Board meetings."
The Ministry regretted that Zubair Habib did not comply with the directives of the competent authority, rather "the company's affairs are being designed on your personal wimps and wits and not in a professional manner. You must know that NIP is a subsidiary of PIDC and under the administrative control of Ministry of Production and by virtue of you being CEO, NIP it is obligatory that you should comply with the directives of the authority that has nominated you as Director on the Board of NIP."
"This is direct insubordination of the directives of the competent authority" and further more there are two inquiries pending against him ie one ordered by the Minister for misappropriation of funds and the other ordered by the Board of NIP. Zubair Habib was informed that since he did not qualify to further hold the charge of the post of CEO, NIP, the competent authority has decided "to place you as Officer on Special Duty (OSD) till the inquiries are completed and finalised."
He was, therefore, advised to stop working as CEO, NIP and hand over the charge to Mohsin Syed, Regional Director North immediately. This matter will be put in the next Board's meeting to formalise this arrangement and further course of action relating to his services.
Chief Secretary Sindh had also in its letter of February 23, 2011 sent to the NIP Development & Management Corporation Chairman, while drawing his attention towards the state of affairs of Korangi Creek Industrial Park Project regretted that the performance of NIP Development & Management Corporation, has remained way below the satisfactory limits, "which is against the spirit of the memorandum of understanding (MoU) between NIP and Government of Sindh.
He advised him to recall his (Chief Secretary's) earlier correspondence, in which he had expressed serious concerns of the Government of Sindh regarding the extension in tenure of Zubair Habib, NIP CEO. "It goes without saying that the success of the project is largely dependent upon the team leader who has so far failed to perform as per expectation of the Government of Sindh."
The Chief Secretary had urged the Chairman to consider his earlier suggestion and bring some one more dynamic and efficient in place of Zubair Habib after expiry of his tenure as CEO, NIP. "His continuation at the same job might compel Government of Sindh to revisit its MoU with NIP," he had asserted.
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