Work in Ministry of Planning, Development and Reforms virtually came to a standstill on October 1 after the retirement of Hassan Nawaz Tarar on September 30 after he reached the age of superannuation. According to sources, Additional Secretary Ministry of Planning, Development and Reforms Rizwan Bashir was supposed to take over as acting secretary but he requested leave due to his father's illness.
Minister Ahsan Iqbal reportedly rejected his leave application. When asked, the Minister told Business Recorder that the Additional Secretary is in office; however, sources clarified that the Additional Secretary was in his office because the Minister granted him leave for only two days.
Federal Minister Ahsan Iqbal has given additional charge of Joint Secretary, Project Director Environment and Director General Computer to Syed Naseer Gilani, Chief Water Planning Commission. Informed sources told Business Recorder that the reason Gilani's appointment is that he hails from Minister's constituency - Narowal - and his appointment required the Minister to ignore senior officials such as the Additional Secretary, the Chief Economist.
The sources said the Additional Secretary has gone on leave for ten days because he does not want to work under his junior colleague (Syed Naseer Gilani). They said the new Secretary Ministry of Planning, Development and Reforms would most probably be from Punjab. The sources further stated that appointments in the Ministry should be on merit and experience as the candidates work in specialised fields; however the Minister, an efficient, intelligent man, with no allegations of corruption against him does show nepotism in appointments. Sources further revealed that Assistant Chief of economy group Mirza Ahmed Nawaz was hand-picked as director and Brigadier Mian Muhammad Saddique (Retd) as co-ordinator to the Minister in violation of the policy of merit. They said that Brigadier Mian Saddique (Retd) also belongs to Narowal.