Daily Times

KARACHI: The Finance Department has challenged the illegal order of Local Government Department (LGD) Sindh appointing Misbahuddin Farid, former Managing Director (MD) Karachi Water and Sewerage Board (KWSB) as Project Director of three electrical and mechanical development projects worth Rs 30 billion without acquiring approval from Chief Secretary Sindh, which is mandatory for such postings.

The officials of Finance Department have expressed that letter LGD/SO-VI/2-2/KWSB/14/192 of April 17, 2017 by LGD, appointing Misbah has no formal approval from the Chief Secretary.

Through another letter of LGD bearing no LG/So-VII/2-2/KWSB/2014, August 8, 2016, in this context has also no legal standing as this appointment was also without the approval the Chief Secretary .

Syed Hashim Raza Zaidi, Managing Director Karachi Water and Sewerage Board has also endorsed the appointment of Misbauddin, officials of Finance Department revealed

Misbahuddin has taken over from Shander Zardari, Project Director, Additional 65 MGD water supply scheme from Haleji to Pipri, with a project cost of Rs 6 billion .

Similarly, Misbahuddin has also taken over the charge of New 100 MGD Dhabeji Pumping House Project in the same official capacity.

Without having any official powers in this particular case, Managing Director Karachi Water and Sewerage Board has appointed Misbah as Project head of 35 megawatt power project at Dhabeji under dual fuel power project in name of Dhabeji Power Project on Built, Operate and Own basis.

The officials of Karachi Water and Sewerage Board legal department and administration have informed that these appointments have been done in sheer violation of rules and regulations of the government and the administration has remained tight lipped over the matter.

“There has been immorality and misconduct that palms have been creased by the concerned parties and even Sindh government has remained silenced on entire illegal affairs in this matter”, asserted Finance Department Sindh officials.

Finance Department officials have claimed that a letter of the Department has been missing since more than ten months in which it had been asked from Misbah that the operating of government accounts of the Project should be stopped forthwith.

The officials of Karachi Water and Sewerage Boardelectrical and mechanical departments were of the view that Misbahuddin is not fit for these projects, as he is a civil engineer and has no experience in these particular fields.

They were of the opinion that more than 75 to 80 percent work in these three development projects comprises of electrical and mechanical facet and appointment of Misbah by any means is not appropriate.

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

Misbahuddin is currently on foreign tour which he takes on regular basis, thus his view on the matter could not be taken.

Published in Daily Times, July 3^rd, 2017.