KP: DG-PDA appointment hits new snag
FAQIR HUSSAIN
PESHAWAR
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government has set a new record by replacing eight Directors Generals (DGs) of the Peshawar Development Authority (PDA) in two years.
The appointment of Ali Asghar, as DG-PDA hit a new snag and was removed in a short span of 12 days. The establishment department KP had appointed Ali Asghar, a Grade 18 PAS officer, on Jan, 20 as Director General (DG) Peshawar Development Authority (PDA).
He was the seventh DG of the authority in the last two years. Following the court order, the KP government removed Mr Ali as DG-PDA and sent him back to his previous position as Chief Economist P&D-KP. It is to note here that he had succeeded Saqib Raza Grade 19 PCS officer Saqib had been appointed as DG of the authority December 11, 2021, however, he also did not remain on the post for more than a month and was replaced 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 eight 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. The KP government in 2019 appointed Ikram Khan DG-PDA by replacing Israr-ul-Haq, however, he was also transferred after two days and the government appointed Uzair Khan Chief Engineer C&W 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.
