Official gives tit-for-tat response to 'insulting' letter of minister's staff.

Byline: Ashfaq Yusufzai

PESHAWAR -- A senior official of the health department has given a befitting response to a letter containing insulting language by the personal staff officer (PSO) of the provincial health minister and has asked him to avoid such unethical language in future otherwise he will complain to the chief minister.

On January 14, Niaz Mohammad, the PSO to Health Minister Dr Hisham Inamullah Khan, wrote a letter to Sher Gul Safi, the chief planning officer (CPO), regarding delay in preparation of a presentation about the update on the schemes of Annual Development Programme and donor-funded projects wherein he used harsh language.

The one-page letter entitled 'displeasure' was also copied to director-general health services. It asked the CPO that despite lapse of target date of January 11, 2019, no reply had been received from him which clearly showed lack of interest towards timely disposal of important official businesses and also presented bad image of the department in public.

Chief planning officer warns to complain to chief minister

'I am further directed to convey you the displeasure of the health minister for your unprofessional attitude and finally direct to refrain from such practices in future, otherwise, matter will be dealt in seriously under the prevailing rules,' it said.

The letter also informed the health secretary to reflect the same in the Annual Performance Evaluation Reports of the officer concerned.

The CPO, in response, sent a letter to the PSO of minister on January 29 wherein he pointed out that that there was no lack of interest towards timely disposal of important official business and being public servants 'we were working in the department to present its good and not bad image to the public but there is a proper procedure and system of handling of official business.'

'In this case while conveying an unjustified displeasure, a very naive, unethical, unparliamentary and unprofessional language and attitude has been adopted with senior officials without keeping in view ground realities,' he said.

Mr Safi also...