Daily Times

KARACHI: Former Managing Director Karachi Water and Sewerage Board (KWSB) has been appointed as the Project Director of three electrical and mechanical development projects worth Rs 30 billion on the orders of Sindh government, according to a notification.

Under the notification, LGD/SO-VI/2-2/KWSB/14/192, April 17, 2017, Shander Zardari, Project Director has been replaced in this effect to provide opportunity to Misbahuddin.

Misbah would now supervise a component of additional 65 million gallons of water per day (MGD) supply scheme from Haleji to Pipri, Karachi, which overall values Rs 6 billion.

Interestingly, vide letter MD/KWSB/2017/892, March 24, 2017, Hashim Raza Zaidi, Managing Director KWSB has nominated Misbauddin Farid, former MD KWSB, as coordinator of KWSB Board meeting.

In the same letter Tehssen Manzar, Director Inquiry and Compliant (I&C) KWSB has been made aide to keep close liaison with Misbah.

Through a notification LGD/So-VII/2-2/KWSB/2014, August 18, 2016, signed by Baqaullah Unnar, former Secretary Local Government Department Sindh had given additional charge of project director to Misbahuddin.

Zaheer Abbas Zaidi, Chief Engineer (E&M) who was earlier serving this post has now been transferred with immediate effect. Meanwhile Deputy Chief Engineer (E&M) KWSB, Azam Khan had resigned from his service.

In another project, Misbah would head the power generation of 40 megawatts of electricity under dual fuel power project in the name of Dhabeji Power Project on Built, Operate and Own (BOO) basis.

Hashim Raza has also constituted a five-member Tender Committee under Misbahuddin, comprising officials of KWSB and Karachi Metropolitan Corporation.

The officials of KWSB electrical and mechanical departments were of the view that Misbahuddin is not the perfect choice for these projects, as he is a civil engineer and has no experience in this particular field.

They were of the opinion that more than 75-80 percent jobs on these three development projects comprises of electrical and mechanical facet and appointment of Misbah is by any mean is not appropriate.

It is pertinent to mention here that Supreme Court of Pakistan in an order on March 16, 2016 had ordered Sindh government to remove Misbahuddin from MD post since he did not qualify to hold the office besides he was a non cadre officer. The Sindh government had later removed him from that post.