ISLAMABAD: The officials of the Higher Education Commission (HEC), who did not attend the “2nd Anniversary of Vision 2025 and Young Development Leader Award’ conference as per the directions of the authorities, are facing trouble due to their absence, Daily Times has learnt reliably. According to details, the Ministry of Planning and Reforms, on August 11, organised a seminar titled “2nd Anniversary of Vision 2025 and Young Development Leader Award”, at the Pak-China Friendship Centre. Sources in the HEC revealed that the higher management declared it compulsory for each official of the department who was in Grade 16 or above to attend the event on the day. Usually, such directions were made through emails instead of papers, they added. They shared an email sent by Amjid Hussain Shah, Assistant Director (HRM), to all the officials of BPS-16, above or equivalent. The email states that the participation of the staff was mandatory. Over 100 employees of the HEC were officially directed to attend the seminar. The event was fixed at 4.50 p.m. on the said date. The sources said that most of the officials did not attend the event by neglecting the directions of the high-ups and the authorities were taking serious action against such officials. “The competent authority has observed with grave concern that most of the officers have not attended the event. All the Divisional /Sectional Heads are requested to intimate the names who have not attended the event except those who were engaged in any other important official assignment with the prior approval of the competent authority. The said information should reach the HRM Division, reads the email available with the scribe. The officials said that they were afraid of losing their jobs for such a minor issue. “The Chairman, Mukhtar Ahmed, just for pertaining the goodwill of the seminar’s organiser ministry head, Ahsan Iqbal, had directed for the officials’ participation and got annoyed on their absence”, said an official wishing anonymity. He said the presence of the employees was set mandatory just for the sake of filling the seats in the seminar hall. “Why were the staff who have no concern with such events, told to participate? Does the official have no other duty to for perform besides attending seminars/or just filling seats?”, asked an official wishing anonymity. The official added that many employees could not attend the event because the programme was scheduled during off time. Moreover, the office had not provided transport to the staff who were willing to participate, they added. “I wanted to go, but despite repeated requests the transport section did not provide an official car”, Ahmad Yahya Khan stated in the email while detailing the reason for disobeying the orders. Spokesperson HEC, Aayesha Ikram, did not respond on the issue till the filing of this news report.