Serious irregularities and alleged violations of rules have surfaced in the appointment of the project director for a Rs40 billion solar project in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, raising questions about the transparency of the process.
Responding to the issue, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi stated that illegal actions will not be tolerated under any circumstances. He said that if the process has been carried out according to rules, those making allegations will have to face the consequences. Meanwhile, the Chief Executive Officer of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Energy Development Organization, Anwar ul Haq, maintained that the appointment was made in accordance with the rules and that an engineering degree along with at least 12 years of experience is required for the position.
According to a notification issued on March 12, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Energy Development Organization appointed a Grade 17 officer as the project director. However, the position is designated for a Grade 19 officer, which has raised several questions, particularly at a time when the project’s PC-I has not yet been approved.
Sources say that the post of project director is reserved for a Grade 19 officer, while Engineer Pir Amil holds a basic pay scale of Grade 17. He was reportedly sent to PEDO on deputation from the Planning and Development Department and had previously been serving at the Supreme Court of Pakistan.
Some individuals have also termed his direct deputation from the Supreme Court to PEDO as a violation of established rules, further intensifying the controversy surrounding the appointment.
Another notable aspect is that the project’s PC-I has not yet been approved, yet the appointment of the project director has already been made. Typically, such appointments are carried out after a formal process involving advertisements and interviews.
Sources claim that the appointment violates the Project Implementation Policy 2022, Chapter 4, Paragraph 3 titled “Procedure to Fill the Post,” specifically sub-clause (xxii), which clearly states that for projects costing Rs3 billion or more, the project director must be appointed at pay scale BS-19 or above.
