The institutional strengthening is of utmost importance for restructuring and regaining efficiencies for any public sector entity. Having quality human resource from private sector is the need of the hour; and in the process the there should be no overstaffing of already fatty organizations.
Recently, reportedly WAPDA is hiring personnel at the top out of the context and virtually all the hires are from retired army cadre. It's happening since the incumbent Chairman, Lieutenant General Muzammil Hussain (Retd) took charge of WAPDA (24 August 2016). Finding working in civilian institution boring, with the absence of officers hurling salutes at the General, the Chairman, within a short span of six months, created a brigade of retired army officer around him.
In complete disregard of the rules and regulation the Chairman hired nine retired army officers of his liking at senior management positions. The officer are inducted in BPS 20,19 and 18. A few inductions are on vacant positions while others are in advisory role.
Four officers are hired without any advertisement, making a mockery of the transparency and merit in government hiring, as required by the decisions of the Honourable Supreme Court. While the remaining officers are hired through advertisement, the fact that only retired army officers were hired, shows the clear inclination towards one institution.
One of the higher-ups is hired as GM land acquisition while the job was not needed, the position is re-designated as GM Human Resource Development and the appointee is given the portfolio (80% of the administrative work) of MD Admin.- a regular post on which a PAS BS-21 officer is working. The later is asked to establish the 'Medical College' which is no way close to the mandate of said officer.
The seriousness of chairman at the position is questioned as he is seldom in head office in Lahore and is virtually operating from the camp office in Islamabad. The Chairman has diverted Rs 500 million from the WAPDA Foundation Fund to set up a Medical School, something which he is not empowered under section 8 of the WAPDA Act. Apart from that the Organization is spending Rs 60 million on Gym in WAPDA house -for exclusive use of the Chairman.
All what is required by senior management at WAPDA is to focus on growing water shortage in the country and to work on building water storage and manage hydel power projects. Any hiring or spending of capital and human resources on luxurious life style or on misaligned goals is uncalled for!