Against legal norms: IBA's new director to get hefty increase in monthly pay

(Karachi) The Institute of Business Administration (IBA) has asked Sindh government to increase the salary of the institution's new head by 25 percent in violation of legal norms, local media has reported. A summary in this regard has been sent to Sindh chief minister for approval.

As per details, the present IBA Director Akbar Zaidi, who was appointed in January 2020, will get Rs2.5 million pay on the recommendations of institution's Board of Governors.

Reportedly, Zaidi is not only drawing a handsome salary but is also availing other perks and priviliges worth millions of rupees. Prior to Zaidi's appointment, IBA was headed by Farrukh Iqbal who was being paid a monthly remuneration of Rs2.1 million.

The position of head of a university or a degree awarding institute is equivalent to a grade 22 government officer while he is paid monthly on the basis of tenure track system. However, in case of Zaidi's appointment, all legal formalities were neglected.

To make matters worse, Akbar Zaidi went on leave to Columbia University to serve his notice period soon after he was appointed as IBA director. He is currently in United States on five-month leave and is running the affairs of the institute from there. In his place, Dr Saeed Ghani took over the charge of caretaker director and a No Objection Certificate (NOC) was issued by the IBA in this regard. However, Ghani is not authorized to take decisions in his capacity.

According to the NOC, the Sindh government will bear all the expenses of the IBA director, besides paying a hefty salary on a monthly basis in his absence.

A member of IBA's search committee said if the committee members had known that Zaidi will go on leaver soon after appointment, they would not have selected him for the top position.

Commenting on the situation, IBA's caretaker Director Saeed Ghani said the situation has changed in wake of the coronavirus pandemic. He said, "This is not a normal condition. We all work together to run the affairs of the institution."

He added, "I and Akbar Zaidi both conduct meetings depending on the availability."

Meanwhile, Akbar Zaidi denied he had knowledge of the summary moved by IBA for increase in his salary. "I don't know the terms of my salary and perks. The IBA and Sindh government should have better knowledge of the matter," he said.

Expressing views on the matter, HEC Sindh Chairman Dr Asim Hussain said, "This is a wrong move. The salary of director and vice-chancellor of a degree awarding institute should be equal and there is a ruling of the federal HEC on it."

He maintained the reason for the wrongdoing is that the files of the varsities are not provided to HEC Sindh for scrutiny.