KARACHI: In defying a ban on retired or OPS officials’ appointments by the Supreme Court (SC), Karachi Water and Sewerage Board (KWSB) has appointed a retired official of the department as technical adviser to its managing director. SCP had directed that no official could be hired/extension/out of cadre promotion, extension in services on contract. Hashim Raz Zaidi, MD KWSB, vide letter KWSB/HRD&A/D.P/98, January 18, 2018 has asked former engineer Syed Mashkoor-ul-Hasnain to continue on his job despite his retirement. Perviz-ul-Haq, Director Personnel HRD of KWSB granted permission by taking benefit of Rule-34 of KWSB employees (General condition of Services), Rules, 1987 read with chapter IV section 6(1) (c), KWSB Act 1996, services of Mashkoor-ul-Hasnain were are engaged as technical adviser for two years w.e.f January 15. His remuneration shall be Rs 300,000 per month inclusive of all payable to him while official vehicle, fuel and government accommodation would be added benefits. Under these Rules only KWSB Board is entitled to take such step whereas no any meeting of the Board has been held in this connection. The Board may engage any person as adviser, technical expert whole time part time, on contract basis or otherwise for special job on payment of such remuneration of fees as deemed fit looking to nature and quantum of work. MD KWSB has no any authority to appoint any retired official nor was Minister Local Government Department Sindh not entitled to appoint such officer without seeking approval of the Board. Even this matter was not put on agenda of Board meeting which was held on January 19, 2018. In due course of time, MD KWSB has been facing contempt of court on allowing several retired/OPS officials to be remained in several departments. Among other anomalies in violation of service rules, a number of grade-officials have been running (labour union of KWSB), whereas they were not allowed to do so under the law. At present, around 11,906 officials from BPS grade 1-20 are serving the entity and around 3,200 posts in different PBS cadres are still lying vacant including 3 posts of BPS-20 for many years. Published in Daily Times, January 22nd 2018.