Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi has rejected giving another extension to former chairman and member finance of Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) and has directed that both positions be advertised afresh. The federal government had constituted a five-member committee headed by Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal to consider the cases of former chairman PTA Dr Syed Ismail Shah and former member (Finance) Tariq Sultan for the next four year term. The committee comprised Secretary Information Technology, Additional Secretary Law Division, Additional Secretary Establishment Division, and Additional Secretary Cabinet Division.
As per the rules, all members of the Authority are appointed for a term of four years and are eligible for re-appointment for a similar term with the approval of Prime Minister, provided the performance of the chairmen/members is found satisfactory by the committee notified. Federal government then appoints a member as Chairman of the Authority from amongst the member(s) with the approval of Prime Minster.
The committee met on October 17, 2017 and approved further extension for both officials and a summary in this regard was submitted to the Prime Minister. The tenure of Ismail Shah ended on November 13, while Tariq completed his four-year term on September 26, 2017.
A letter signed by Secretary to the Prime Minister Fawad Hasan Fawad states that the Prime Minister has seen and is pleased to observe as follows:
"The purpose of contract appointments is to ensure that the government retains the option to seek more qualified and better human resource from the market on the completion of the tenure particularly in fast developing sector like telecom sector in Pakistan;
"While both the Chairman and Member (Finance) have performed fairly well, development in the telecom sector in Pakistan in the last four (04) years has also brought a large number of outstanding professionals in this sector back to Pakistan who did not compete when the positions were placed for appointments; and,
"It is a conscious policy of the government to improve its human resource and also to encourage the Pakistani expatriates to return back to Pakistan for performing their role in development of the country.
"In view of the above, the Prime Minister has been pleased to desire that both the positions shall be advertised afresh where present recommendees may also like to compete along with fresh applicants. Further necessary action may be taken accordingly."
Sources revealed that the committee recommendations for giving extension were met with opposition as an anonymous letter was sent to all concerned authorities including the Prime Minister's Office that raised questions over the possible extension in services of chairman PTA and member finance.
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