PESHAWAR
The entire fraternity of Civil Service has grieved the passing away of one of its senior most icon Khalid Khan Umerzai and all Pakistan PMS Officers Association convey its deepest condolences to the family and friends of the deceased.
Khalid Khan Umerzai was born to a noble family of Charsadda and received his education from Edward’s College Peshawar and University of Peshawar. Afterwards, he joined PCS Executive service & dedicated his life to Civil service till his retirement a few years back. From Magistrate to AC and DC to Commissioner and Secretary to the Government, Khalid Umerzai always remained a towering figure among his colleagues, said Fahad Ikram Qazi, Coordinator APPMSA.
Being a man of principles and follower of the old-school traditions, he would often remain under suspension or an OSD — for the spirit de corps of the service of those times were far different than the mess we found ourselves in these days, Fahad Ikram Qazi said.
Few would know that he remained an OSD for more than a decade in various phases throughout his career. Also being chased by the martial law driven watchdogs yet always stood by his words, he recalled.
One of the popular incidents at the end of his career was after the elections of 2013 when the PTI came to power in the province. The new CM called a meeting of the secretaries committee but the same was chaired by Imran Khan, not the CM.
He disclosed that late Khalid Umerzai countered the chair as to his legal capacity for chairing the meeting. Well, the obvious happened afterwards and he was made an OSD and then made instructor of staff training institute till his retirement since Imran Khan had passed standing orders to that effect, he added.
Khalid Umerzai also struggled for the rights of provincial officers and remained President of the KP chapter as well as of All Pakistan PCS officers for years, he said. Officers in KP would rush to Khalid Khan for resolution of their career related issues. He and other comrades from provinces laid the foundation of administrative federalism with a slogan to reform the civil service In accordance with the Constitution of Pakistan, Fahad Ikram Qazi said.
The dedication, aura, and liveliness of Khalid Khan Umerzai will always be missed. Yet, the PMS Officers across Pakistan will carry on his mission of efficient service delivery and administrative federalism, he said.
