MDA flouts rules in 'rehiring' of DG's staff officer as adviser.

Byline: Shakeel Ahmed

MULTAN -- The Multan Development Authority (MDA) has rehired the services of the retired staff officer of the MDA director general (DG) in violation of provincial government's rules for appointment of work- charged employees against a post for which even he does not possess the relevant expertise/experience, Dawn has learnt.

The rehiring case of Muhammad Akram who was to retire on April 14 from the post of assistant director was placed in the MDA's governing body meeting held in March that as per section 9 of the Punjab Development of Cities Act 1976, the authority may appoint such officers, advisers, experts, consultants and employees as it considers necessary for efficient performance of the functions.

It was proposed that Akram be appointed as adviser from April 14, 2020, to June 30, 2021, for which emoluments and other benefits shall be as permissible to an officer of BS-17 and remuneration as per last pay drawn.

Akram's last pay was about Rs170,000 while as per schedule of wage rates, 2019 issued by the finance department no officer of such rank could be hired on wage basis (work charge) while even the posts of daily wagers will be advertised in newspapers and daily wage rates given in the schedule prescribe the range within which the competent authority may make an appointment on a daily wage basis in accordance with daily wage rates as notified by the finance department for the respective district.

DG Agha Ali Abbas notified on April 15...