Govt asks 15 bodies to complete process by 31st

WASIM IQBAL

ISLAMABAD: The federal government has directed as many as 15 public sector organizations to ensure that the process of appointments of their heads is completed by Dec 31.

Sources in Establishment Division maintained that 33 departmental heads have been appointed and appointments of the heads of another 15 organisations, including Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP), are in final stages.

The federal government constituted a special committee under the Chairmanship of Khawaja Zaheer Ahmed, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister, to complete the selection process of heads of public sector organisations by Dec 31, 2014.

The federal government assured the Supreme Court that in compliance with the court’s 14 Nov 2014 verdict, it would complete the process of appointments of various statutory, autonomous and regulatory bodies’ heads by the last day of the current calendar year. The government committed to the apex court that it would fill the vacant post of heads of 22 statutory bodies and 33 public sector companies, which were established under the Companies Ordinance, 1984. After the passage of 18th amendment, three departments have already been devolved to the provinces, the matter of appointment of five departments’ heads is sub judice in superior courts while the heads of the remaining government entities would be completed by the end of current year.

The departments, whose appointments have already been made include Chairman, Member Technical, Member Finance of Pakistan Telecommunication Authority, Pakistan Television Corporation Managing Director, Pakistan Steel Mills Limited Chairman, Chairman PIA, Chairman NEPRA, Managing Director Baitul Maal, Chief Executive Officer Trade Development Authority, Chairman State Life Insurance Corporation, Chairman Evacuee Trust Board, Managing Director House Building Finance, Managing Director Telecom Foundation, Managing Director NESPAK, Chief Executive Railway Construction Pakistan, Chief Executive Saindek.

The government has also appointed the heads of Pak-Arab Refinery, Sui Northern & Southern, National Power Construction Corporation, Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority, Security and Exchange Commission of Pakistan, Pakistan Agriculture Research Council, National Tariff Commission and Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation.

The Supreme Court on November 14 exempted the government from the condition of formation of a commission with regard to the appointments of heads of various statutory, autonomous and regulatory bodies. The apex court ruled that it is the exclusive preserve of the federal government to appoint heads of the said bodies, as well as to make appointments based on merit under acts and ordinances wherein certain criteria have been laid down for such a purpose.