Engineering Development Board (EDB) is expected to advertise the post of chief executive officer (CEO) this week as a team of auditors has declared the appointment of incumbent CEO illegal, well informed sources in EDB told Business Recorder.
The Establishment Division's O.M. No. 6/4/96-R-3 of May 10, 1997 states that in the appointment of chief executive/head of organisation, the selection board headed by the minister in-charge would recommend a panel of three names for the approval of Prime Minister/ Chief Executive.
Giving the background, the sources said the EDB authorities gave an advertisement in the press on May 23, 2014 for appointment of chief executive officer. The Establishment Division in its O.M. of January 30, 2015 informed that special assistant to prime minister (SAPM/chairman) will chair the selection board of the Ministry of Industries and Production for the purpose of selecting a CEO for EDB in relaxation of the provisions of Establish Division's O.M of 1997 and this will be one-time special dispensation allowed specifically for the purpose of enabling the selection board of the Ministry of Industries and Production to select CEO for EDB.
In response to the advertisement, 34 applications were received. Selection board interviewed ten candidates who appeared on January 30, 2015 and recommended that it would be advisable to expand the competition after revision of qualifications and pay package; the more so, adequate number of qualified and eligible candidates could not make consentient to appear for interview due to short notice. On February 04, 2015, the prime minister approved the proposal to re-advertise the post after revision of experience criteria to attract larger response and expand the competition made by Ministry of Industries and Production through summary of January 31, 2015. The post was re-advertised on February 11, 2015 with required qualification and experience "bachelor's degree in engineering with MBA from a reputable university of Pakistan or abroad recognised by HEC and must possess at least 20 years of professional experience with a minimum of 3-5 years at top management position or as head of national/multinational organisation." Thirty-five applications were received after this advertisement.
Selection board interviewed five short-listed candidates on February 28, 2015 and recommended three names/candidates for appointment as CEO of EDB. The prime minister approved the summary of Ministry of Industries and Production on February 28, 2015 and approved the appointment of Tariq Ejaz Chaudhary as CEO EDB in MP-l scale, on contract basis for a period of two years.
The Establishment Division, in its notification No. 1/66/2005-E-6 of March 27, 2015 appointed Tariq Ejaz Chaudhary as CEO EDB in MP-l scale, on contract basis for a period of two years, with immediate effect. Tariq Ejaz Chaudhary assumed the charge of his post on March 31, 2015.
According to sources, the audit team in its observation stated that the post was re-advertised but no change in required qualification and experience was made. In original advertisement "bachelor's degree in engineering along with MBA from a reputable university of Pakistan or abroad and must possess at least 20 years of professional experience with a minimum of 10 years as CEO of reputable national/multinational Organisation" and in re-advertisement "bachelor's degree in engineering with MBA from a reputable university of Pakistan or abroad recognised by HEC and must possess at least 20 years of professional experience with a minimum of 3-5 years at top management position or as head of national /multinational organisation."
One-time special dispensation was allowed in relaxation of the provisions of establishment Division's O.M. No.6/4/96-R-3 of May 10, 1997 and selection board was headed by SAPM on January 30, 2015 due to resignation of the federal minister and with a view to ensure compliance with the courts. In the case of re-advertisement of the post, it was necessary that the selection board be chaired by the minister in-charge, said the audit in its observation.
The key observation of the audit is that Tariq Ejaz Chaudhary submitted his application with CV and mentioned that two degrees M.S. Marking and Mechanical Engineering recognised by HEC whereas recognition of HEC on MBA degree was not mentioned. The recognition of HEC on MBA degree has neither been noticed by the scanning committee nor carried out so far.
"Tariq Ejaz Chaudhary did not have the required experience of CEO post -minimum of 3-5 years at top management position or as head of national/multinational Organisation - the audit team said, adding that scanning /short-listing committee neither scrutinised the applications received for the post of CEO nor was the committee framed accordingly/ subsequently.
Audit is of the view that due to the shortcoming, the appointment of CEO of EDB was irregular and recommended that matter may be reviewed and outcome be shown to audit.
Comments
Comments are closed.