Frequent changes hints issues of governance, internal administrative matters
PESHAWAR
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government has set a new record by replacing seven directors general of the Peshawar Development Authority (PDA) in two years.
The establishment department KP on Thursday appointed Ali Asghar, a Grade 18 PAS officer, as Director General (DG) Peshawar Development Authority (PDA), the seventh DG of the authority in two years.
Moreover, the establishment department issued orders of postings and transfers of other14 senior officers and 24 additional deputy commissioners and assistant commissioners in the province.
The provincial government transferred the current DG-PDA Saqib Raza and posted him as Secretary Auqaf KP.
Mr Saqib, a Grade 20 PCS officer, was appointed DG of the authority December 11, 2021. He did not complete a month’s period on the post and was transferred out by the provincial government.
Some senior officers in the bureaucracy concerned over the prevailing situation, saying that no such practice has been witnessed in the province when a government changed seven DGs of PDA in just two years.
It has also been observed that after the BRT project issues and subsequent inquiries of the national watchdog senior officers are reluctant to work as DG-PDA and as result the provincial government has to change DGs of the authority frequently.
The KP government in 2019 appointed Ikram Khan DG-PDA by replacing Israr-ul-Haq, however, he was transferred after two days and the government appointed Uzair Khan as new DG of the authority.
The things did not stop here and the provincial government appointed Syed Zafar Ali Shah, a PMS Officer, as DG-PDA. However, after a few months Zafar Ali Shah was removed and the government gave the additional charge of PDA to the then Commissioner Peshawar.
The reign of PDA was given to Amara Khan, a PAS group officer, who was transferred from Punjab.
Amara Khan could not manage to work on the post for a long period as she was replaced by Saqib Raza.
Amara Khan was transferred and posted as additional secretary in the finance department.
Currently, Ali Asghar has been appointed as DG-PDA as he replaced Saqib Raza. Mr Saqib remained on the post for a month.
Moreover, the establishment department also directed Secretary Auqaf Khayyam Hassan, Director Social Welfare merged areas Hafeez Khan and Director Social Welfare KP Habib Khan to report to the establishment department.
