LAHORE - The Punjab government, after having shelved the appointment process of Asian Development Bank-funded Lower Bari Duab Canal (LBDC) project director (PD), has decided to post a fresh director after initiating a new process, The Nation has learnt.
A high-level committee, a couple of days back, had recommended removal of the incumbent acting Project Director Riaz Rasheed appointed by the irrigation minister owing to slow progress on the project and appointment of a new one. The CM office had agreed to it. The Irrigation Department has given additional charge of the post to Khalid Quraishi till appointment of a regular officer.
On the other hand, Sajid Rizvi, whose appointment was approved by the chief minister a couple of weeks ago, challenged the inquiries initiated against him by the Irrigation Department in the Lahore High Court.
Sources in the P&D Board disclosed the earlier completed process for the appointment of the LBDC project director had been cancelled. After completing a long exercise, the Punjab chief minister had approved the appointment of Sajid Rizvi for the post. But, the Irrigation Department, instead of issuing a notification, started inquiries against him. A senior officer of the P&D Board, conditioning anonymity, viewed delay in the posting of a project director would not only annoy the donor agency but also increase cost of the project.
One year ago, Irrigation Minister Mian Yawar Zaman posted Riaz Rasheed as the project director who failed to deliver, the officer alleged. He said that undue political interference in the technical affairs of the department had annoyed the donor agency as well as the competent officers.
It has been learnt that LBDC is worth Rs 30 billion project, including Rs 22 billion funded by Asian Development Bank. The project was to be completed by September 30, 2015, but even 50% work could not be completed after seven years. Sources in the Irrigation Department further told this correspondent that till June 30 this year only Rs 14 billion could be spent.
The Lower Bari Canal irrigates 1.7 million acres of land in districts Okara, Sahiwal, Kasur and Khanewal. The same bank has been funding rehabilitation of Balloki Barrage, BS Link and other canals.
The sources added that on the directions of Punjab Irrigation Minister Yawar Zaman, the department had opened old cases against the officers, including Sajid Rizvi, selected by a high-level search committee comprising the P&D chairman and other senior officers. None of the irrigation minister or secretary was available for comments on the issue as this scribe visited their offices.
It is to be recalled that Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif some weeks ago approved the Irrigation Department’s summary for the appointment of Sajid Rizvi as the LBDC director. Sources said the department stopped the issuance of the notification in favour of the new director on the directions of Irrigation Minister Yawar Zaman because the Services & General Administration Department had rejected the name of Riaz Rasheed recommended by the minister on the ground of being a junior in the merit list, and forwarded Sajid Rizvi’s name for the slot. The CM Secretariat had approved the same accordingly.
Currently, Riaz Rasheed has been holding the additional charge of the project. The S&GAD had stated in writing that a junior officer who was also facing major penalties could not be posted against a significant slot meant for ensuring transparency.
The sources said the minister wanted the same exercise for the selection of the project director to be repeated.
Further delay in the appointment of the ADB-funded project director might annoy the funding agency, they feared. The job of the project director is to supervise the LBDC and other ADB-funded rehabilitation mega projects of canals and barrages in the Punjab to the tune of billions of rupees, the officials said.
CM Shahbaz Sharif wanted a senior person as the project director to ensure transparency in the ADB-funded programmes, including LBDC. In order to pursue the merit policy, the CM approved the name forwarded by the Regulation Wing and rejected the name of a person recommended by the Irrigation Department as he did not deserve the coveted slot.
It merits mentioning here that a special high-level committee, headed by Planning & Development (P&D) Chairman Irfan Elahi and comprising the administrative secretaries of the finance, irrigation and regulation departments, was formed to select a suitable officer for the slot, which shortlisted candidates. The committee further shortlisted names of Barrages Director Procurement Ejaz-ul-Hassan Kashif, Head Balloki XEN Sajid Rizvi and Upper Chenab Canal Circle Superintending Engineer Riaz Rasheed. The committee finally recommended the name of Rizvi for the slot.
However, the Punjab Irrigation Department, ignoring the committee recommendations, had forwarded the name of an officer who was at third position in the merit list. As per the interview result, Riaz Rasheed who enjoyed support of the minister could not satisfactorily answer the questions asked by the committee on financial matters, the sources revealed. The department, however, recommended Riaz Rasheed as the LBDC director finally.
A senior officer of the P&D, conditioning anonymity, confirmed Ejaz-ul-Hassan was involved in the Taunsa Barrage inquiry while Riaz Rasheed was punished in a departmental inquiry.