senate questions opf

Senate questions OPF MD’s Rs1m salary and appointment

ByJustpaste.in

Islamabad: A controversy has emerged over the appointment of the Managing Director of the Overseas Pakistanis Foundation (OPF) after Senator Aimal Wali Khan raised serious questions in the Senate Standing Committee on Cabinet Secretariat regarding the selection process, salary package and background of the appointed official.

During the meeting chaired by Senator Rana Mahmood ul Hassan, Senator Aimal Wali Khan questioned the appointment of the OPF Managing Director and demanded complete details from the concerned authorities.

Senator Aimal Wali Khan said that while the government has discussed the financial difficulties faced by ordinary citizens, concerns arise when senior government positions receive very high salaries. He pointed out that the Prime Minister had publicly stated that a person can manage monthly expenses with Rs8,000, while an individual appointed in OPF was receiving a salary of Rs1 million per month.

He further informed the committee that another individual had been appointed in OPF with a monthly salary of Rs2.5 million, raising questions about government pay structures and appointment policies.

The senator also raised questions regarding the nationality and background of the OPF Managing Director. He alleged that the appointed individual does not possess a Pakistani National Identity Card and is a British citizen by birth. He also questioned how a person who had faced conviction by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) could receive another government appointment.

Following these concerns, the Senate Committee took notice of the matter and directed the relevant authorities to provide complete details regarding the appointment of the Managing Director of Overseas Pakistanis Foundation.

The committee stressed that appointments in public institutions must follow transparency, accountability and proper procedures to maintain public confidence.

Responding to questions regarding government appointments, officials of the Establishment Division informed the committee that suitable candidates are not available for certain specialised positions, which creates difficulties in filling important posts.

Senator Aimal Wali Khan also criticised the broader culture of retaining officials in important positions despite long periods of inability to perform duties. He remarked that some individuals continue to hold positions even when they are unable to actively perform their responsibilities.

The matter was discussed during a meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Cabinet Secretariat held at the Establishment Division under the chairmanship of Senator Rana Mahmood ul Hassan.

The meeting was attended by Senators Saadia Abbasi, Abdul Qadir, Dilawar Khan, Aimal Wali Khan and Saleem Mandviwalla, along with the Secretary Cabinet Division and Secretary Establishment Division.

The committee directed authorities to submit the required information so that the issue of public appointments, governance and institutional reforms could be reviewed in detail in upcoming meetings.

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