Secretary BISP in his position remains contentious

The position of Secretary in Benazir Income Support Programme remains contentious and the organisation is likely to appoint yet another secretary after September 18. An official in the BISP told Business Recorder that Senator Enver Baig, Chairman of the organisation, was not happy with the performance of the present secretary Shabbir Ahmad.
Ahmad has a dual charge as he is also working as additional secretary finance. He was given the additional charge by the Establishment Division after previous secretary BISP Rab Nawaz quit.
Baig had written a letter to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif seeking removal of Rab Nawaz from his position as the latter was accused of defying the rules and damaging the organisation.
"The chairman (Enver Baig) is too demanding and officials find it difficult to work with him," the official said.
The Establishment Division had given the additional charge of Secretary BISP to Shabbir Ahmad for three months that is going to expire on September 20. "It is yet to be seen whether the Establishment Division extends the duration of the present secretary or appoints another one," he said.
The official said that Chairman Enver Baig had proposed two names for the coveted slot of the secretary but it was not binding on the Establishment Division to act on the chairman's proposals.
He said that Shabbir Ahmad had also expressed his unwillingness to continue as secretary BISP. "Shabbir feels that additional charge of the BISP has been hampering his work in the finance division so he wants to relinquish the charge," he said.
The official also said the chairman was deeply upset with overall performance of the organisation; therefore he wanted an energetic officer to be appointed as secretary BISP.
"We are under tremendous pressure these days as we have to meet all the requirements and criteria set by the international financial institutions," he said.
The official said that the organisation would remain in limbo until a permanent secretary is appointed. "The chairman needs to develop a working relationship with the officials; otherwise we could miss all the targets and goals set by the international financial institutions," he said.