Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Engineering Development Board (EDB), Tariq Ejaz Chaudhary has reportedly sought "help" from Minister for Industries and Production, Ghulam Murtaza Jatoi for extension in his tenure, well informed sources told Business Recorder.
Tariq Ejaz Chaudhary assumed the charge of CEO on March 31, 2015 for a period of two years which is expiring on March 31, 2017. The advertisement for new CEO is about to appear in the national newspapers in a day or two as Establishment Division has approved appointment of new CEO.
The Federal Audit, a wing of Auditor General of Pakistan which conducts audit of public sector entities, has already declared the appointment of incumbent CEO EDB as irregular, saying that Tariq Ejaz Chaudhary did not have the required experience of CEO post which requires "minimum of 3-5 years at top management position or as head of national/ multinational organisation."
The audit further stated that scanning/ short-listing committee neither scrutinised the applications received for the post of CEO nor was the committee framed accordingly/ subsequently.
Sources in Ministry of Industries and Production told this scribe that inquiry on allegedly illegal appointment of CEO and verification of his degrees has been completed, adding that on the basis of that inquiry the CEO's post is being advertised. The official confirmed that incumbent CEO's degrees of MBA and PHD are not from HEC recognised universities as this is confirmed by the HEC on a letter sent by the CEO himself. However, the ministry has refused to share the written reply of HEC on degrees.
The audit has further observed that board of management of EDB in its meeting on June 6, 2016 through revised minutes of meeting issued on August 3, 2016 recommended the fixing of pay of the CEO EDB to maximum of pay scale of MP-1 effective from the date of assuming charge.
Under the rules of business of EDB, chairman enjoys all the administrative and financial powers to run the affairs of the board within the budgetary allocation approved by the government. Rules of business further provide that chairman EDB may delegate any of his administrative and financial powers to the vice chairman/ chief executive officer for quick and smooth functioning of day-to-day operations of EDB.
The board of management, in its meeting of April 25, 2005 approved delegation of the administrator and financial powers of the chairman EDB to the vice chairman/ CEO for smooth operations of the re-organised EDB.
The audit has observed that management of EDB revised the pay of the officer at the maximum of the MP-1 pay scale and paid arrears of Rs 1.480 million for the period from March 31, 2015 to November 30, 2016 including arrears of additional pay Rs41,000 for 2015 and Rs41,000 for 2016 (honorarium) irregularly without obtaining the approval of federal government from receipts/ rental account.
The audit is of the view that fixation of pay and payment of arrears without the approval of the federal government was irregular.
The audit has also observed that the management failed to achieve the objectives of the EDB for which it was established.
When contacted, Minister for Industries and Production Ghulam Murtaza Khan Jatoi said that neither the CEO EDB had applied to him for extension nor he has recommended so. His term will expire in March 2017. The ministry will advertise the post in the newspapers. Three names will be recommended after due process to the Prime Minister who is the appointing authority.
The minister said that CEO EDB came to his office on last Friday to brief him on questions regarding EDB for Senate. He slightly mentioned that his term will expire in March.
According to the minister, he heard CEO's views and conveyed to him that his degrees are in question.