ISLAMABAD - Federal Minister for Production Anwar Ali Cheema & Chairperson Aik Hunar Aik Nagar (AHAN) Ms Samina Khawar Hayat co-chaired the Board of Director (BoD) meeting conducted to analyse the performance of the organisation in recent months and to review the decisions taken in the last board meeting in the ministry.
The board approved the appointment of new chief executive officer (CEO) Basit Maqsood along with his monthly remuneration package. Two board members pointed out that the core objective of the organization was to strengthen the grass-root level poverty-stricken people, neither to give hefty packages to the employees of AHAN. Secondly, the members objected that the organization was established under Section 42 of Companies ordinance 1984 as Non-profit Company.
It cannot be used for income generation, other than the surplus income generated. Moreover, it was decided that an Assignment Account in the name of company should be made for the disbursement of 50 million of government money to the organization. Out of which 10 million is for recurring expenditure and 40 million is conditional or performance based.
Minister, while appreciating the performance of the Ministry, said that zero tolerance would be given for lax attitude, irregularities and corruption as long as he is holding the office. Further, the Minister advised the Chairperson AHAN & newly appointed CEO to work in a close collaboration for financial sustainability in the longer run, as the Ministry would not financially feed any of the subsidiary company.
Secretary, Gul Muhammad Rind, also appreciated the progress of the organization by endorsing the views of the minister, as per the policy of the Ministry. He further, directed to launch the Karachi outlet of AHAN before Eid.
Chairperson AHAN, while emphasizing the importance of marketing said that there is a dire need to produce any documentary on the overall performance of the organization and support from the Ministry as well. In addition to that, she said that we’ll try to establish people to people contact by personal visits in the rural areas to develop a direct liaison with the artisans trained so far.