Appointments of CEOs of EDB, PIDC; Notifications' issuance hamstrung by technical errors

Ministry of Industries and Production (MoI&P) has not yet issued notifications of the newly appointed Chief Executives of Engineering Development Board (EDB) and Pakistan Industrial Development Corporation (PIDC) due to some technical errors in the minutes of federal cabinet, well informed sources told Business Recorder.

Last month, Federal Cabinet approved Raza Abbas Shah as Chief Executive Officer of Engineering Development Board (EDB) and Rizwan Bhatti as CEO Pakistan Industrial Development Corporation (PIDC),

The sources said MOI&P added to the summary that respective CEOs can quit the position or can be removed after giving a one month's notice - a paragraph not included by Cabinet Division in the minutes.

MOI&P has written a letter to the Cabinet Division requesting to issue a corrigendum after including the relevant paragraph. Cabinet Division has forwarded the corrigendum to the Prime Minister for approval.

"As we get the revised minutes in the light of corrigendum, notifications of both the CEOs will be issued," the sources maintained.

The post of CEO, EDB, Ministry of Industries and Production, has been vacant since March 31, 2017 and the business of the organization is being carried out on look after basis.

The position of CEO, EDB was advertised in leading national dailies on August 18, 2019. A total of 91 applications were received up to the closing date of the advertisement. A committee was constituted to scrutinize the particulars of all the applicants in terms of eligibility criteria for the post of CEO, EDB.

The MoI&P's committee had shortlisted 23 candidates for the interview. In terms of Establishment Division's Office Memorandum (OM) of December 27, 2018, a Selection Board comprising the following interviewed the shortlisted candidates on October 10, 2019: (i) Advisor to the Prime Minister on Industries and Production; (ii) Secretary, Ministry of Industries and Production; (iii) Additional Secretary-II, Ministry of Industries and Production; and ( iv) Additional Secretary-II, Establishment Division.

The Selection Board recommended a panel of following three candidates in order of merit for appointments against the post of CEO, EDB: (i) Raza Abbas Shah; (ii) Naveed Akram Ansari; and (iii) Waqar Ahmed Khan.

MOI&P proposed to the Cabinet that a suitable candidate from the panel should be appointed CEO EDB in MP-1 scale for a period of two years subject to a one-month notice from either side. The Cabinet approved the name of Raza Abbas Shah.

The Federal Cabinet also approved the appointment of Rizwan Bhatti as CEO, PIDC who presently is CEO National Industrial Parks, Development and Management Company (NIP). The government wants to merge NIP with PIDC.