LAHORE: Planning and Development (P&D) Board Chairman Abdullah Khan Sumbal on Saturday assumed look-after charge of Punjab chief secretary’s office, since the incumbent officer Kamran Ali Afzal has proceeded on a two-week leave.

Mr Afzal had repeatedly requested the federal government to withdraw his services from Punjab for not being comfortable with the present provincial government.

Mr Sumbal belongs to 23rd Common of the Pakistan Administrative Service (PAS) and has a vast experience in the fields of finance and public administration. He has served on various important positions, including additional chief secretary (ACS), secretary of finance, higher education and information departments, as well as commissioner of Lahore and Sahiwal divisions.

Meanwhile, the Punjab government made ACS Shehryar Sultan and agriculture secretary Ali Sarfraz Hussain officers on special duty (OSD), who were considered close to Chief Secretary Kamran Ali Afzal. Mr Sultan had also served as secretary services, while Mr Hussain had also served as P&D Board chairman. Mr Hussain has also been relieved of the additional charge of the post of Punjab Information and Technology Board (PITB) chairman.

Sources say the transfer of Mr Sultan and Mr Hussain had already been decided and there was an understanding between Chief Minister Parvez Elahi and Chief Secretary Mr Afzal in this regard.

The additional charge of the post of ACS has been entrusted to ACS (Home) retired Capt Asad Ullah Khan. Mr Khan is also holding the additional charge of director-general of the Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE.)

The additional charge of the agriculture department secretary has been given to special secretary (agriculture marketing) Waqar Hussain in addition to his own duties, till the posting of a regular incumbent.

The Punjab government also transferred Gujranwala Development Authority (GDA) director-general Nasir Mahmood Bashir and directed him to report to the S&GAD for further orders.

Deputy Commissioner (DC), Gujranwala, Ms Saira Omar, has been given additional charge of the post of DG GDA in addition to her own duties, till the posting of a regular incumbent.

Toba Tek Singh DC Zahid Sohail has been transferred and directed to report to the S&GAD for further orders. Additional Commissioner (Coordination), Rawalpindi, Muhammad Arshad, has been transferred and posted as TT Singh DC in his own pay and scale.

Published in Dawn, September 18th, 2022