ISLAMABAD: By removing its recent order under the leadership of Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmad, the National Database and Registry Authority (Nadra) reversed the promotion of its 240 employees previously listed as top performers.
The office order, released on January 25 only to be revoked four days later, stated: “In recognition of their efforts, Chairman Nadra is pleased to encourage 240 employees (who were NIS top performers in Promotion Board 2018) to the next grade along with salary fixation and 2 increments w.e.f. 1 July 2021 (except those who were awarded any promotion-related penalty).”
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The Minister of the Interior told Dawn that the promotion orders had been revoked in his direction, as it was ‘inappropriate’ for the President to take such a decision before the end of his three-year term expiring on Feb 8.
Asked on who will be Nadra’s next president, the minister said the next president would be selected by a merit-based procedure. He said that during the process of appointing the new chairman, the highest officer of the authority will obtain the acting charge of the position.
He said an advertisement accepting applications for the position of Nadra chairman will be released shortly. Three names would be submitted to the federal cabinet following bureaucratic formalities, which would finalise one of them.
The Minister referred to Section 3(7) of the Nadra Ordinance, which reads, ‘The President shall be a distinguished specialist of proven reputation and expertise with significant experience in the fields of computer science, engineering, mathematics, demographics, law, industry, government, finance, accounting, economics, civil or military administration, or registration.’
They said the outgoing chairman had sought to persuade the minister that the promotion of 240 workers was based on a performance-based benefit decision for the workforce, but the decision was ‘controversial’ at the time.
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According to the sources, former Nadra chairman Tariq Malik, who resigned after forming disagreements with then Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, and incumbent chairman Usman Yusuf Mobin, who served for the second consecutive term, were most likely to be the hot contenders for the seat.
Mr Malik is currently the Chief Technical Advisor of the United Nations Development Program and has recently visited Pakistan to support the country’s digital transition agenda.
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