LAHORE: In a surprise move, the Primary and Secondary Healthcare (P&SHC) Department has allegedly amended the appointment rules for the post of director of Lahore Drug Testing Laboratory and initiated recruitment process in this regard, much to the anguish of pharmacists. The P&SHC Department has amended its service rules by relaxing the upper age limit from 50 to 60 years and converting the permanent post of grade 20 of DTL director into a contractual one. This unprecedented decision has caused frustration among senior pharmacists. An official privy to this development told Daily Times that the drug testing laboratories were established under the provisions of Drug Act, 1976, to support and assist regulatory functions of drug testing all over the province. The official said that service rules notified by the Punjab government clearly mentioned age limit as 45 to 50 years for the post of DTL director, the highest job in health for a pharmacist or pharmaceutical expert. The rules stated that 10 percent post of DTL director (BS 20) is to be done through the Punjab Public Service Commission (PPSC) while the remaining 90 percent is to be filled by promotion from among senior pharmacists of BS 19.The department advertised this post with age limit mentioned in service rules, but after a few days, it issued corrigendum and re-advertised the post with new age limit of 60 years, which was a clear violation of rules. Appointment of the director would be on contractual basis for a specified period of three to five years against market-based salary under the Contract Policy, 2004, he said, adding that it was the government that wanted to convert top positions of departments into contractual slots. On the other hand, the P&SHC Department was also advertising different posts, including four technical directors (BS-19), 24 deputy drugs controllers (BS 18) and 64 pharmacists (BS-17) on contract basis for three years in drug testing laboratories of Rawalpindi, Faisalabad, Multan and Bahawalpur. “This is a glaring precedent of sheer violation of fundamental rights, rules and the bad governance in Punjab,” Noor Muhammad Maher, a senior pharmacist, commented in utter dejection. He said that since the age limit and superannuating was 60 according to the service rules of the Punjab government, adding that any move would be tantamount to serious violation of laws. “Many highly qualified and experienced pharmacists were eying the top position, but the move dashed their hopes,” he lamented. This new adventure has sent a wave of shock among the pharmacists’ community, he said, adding that contractual appointments would jeopardise the health system again. He expressed reservations on the development and urged the Punjab chief minister to take notice of the unlawful activities.