Pims dean stripped of administrative powers.

ISLAMABAD -- Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims) Executive Director Dr Naeem Malik has curtailed administrative powers of hospital dean Dr Rizwan Taj, which were granted to the latter by the health ministry in February.

The notification, which does not have the approval of the health ministry, has raised many an eyebrow since ED Dr Naeem Malik, being the head of an ancillary institution, does not have the authority to override the ministry's decision.

Pims spokesperson Dr Haider Abbasi played down the notification in this regard and said the ED will use these administrative powers himself.

According to a document available with Dawn, a clarification has been issued regarding the job description of the dean.

Executive director's controversial notification overrides health ministry decision

'It is to inform that Prof Rizwan Taj, HOD Psychiatry Department, has been assigned the charge of dean...he assumed the said charge [on] 01.02.2023. It is therefore needed to be clarified that the responsibilities of the dean will only be to monitor the duties of the postgraduate residents, their performance evaluation, clinical supervision, attendance, roasters, implementations etc. as per rules and procedure already defined. No one is authorised to issue any kind of administrative orders without approval of the undersigned,' the notification said.

'It is further clarified that all employees of Pims, including the dean, are bound to follow the rules and procedures being subordinates of this office,' the letter issued and signed by the ED stated.

In February, the Ministry of National Health Services (NHS) authorised Prof Rizwan Taj with administrative powers. The document stated that Dr Rizwan Taj has been assigned the charge of the dean in addition to his own duties for a period of three months.'All matters of postgraduate residency training/teaching programme pertaining to School of Nursing, College of Nursing and College of Medical Technology shall be dealt by the office of Dean Pims,' it stated.

A senior official of Pims, on the...