Mardan – The Auditor General of Pakistan’s audit report for the 2022–23 financial year has highlighted alleged irregularities in the appointment, transfer and promotion of officials to Sub-Engineer (BPS-12) posts in the Executive Engineer’s Irrigation Division, Mardan.
According to the audit report, several officials were appointed or promoted to the posts in violation of the applicable Khyber Pakhtunkhwa civil service rules governing departmental promotions.
The report states that appointments to the post of Sub-Engineer should be made only from among officials who have passed the prescribed Grade A and Grade B departmental examinations, completed at least seven years of service and qualified on the basis of seniority. The audit found that these conditions were allegedly not met in several cases.
Among the cases highlighted, the report states that Yasir Fawad was transferred from the post of Gauge Reader (BPS-5) and appointed as a Sub-Engineer despite allegedly not having passed the required departmental examinations or completed the mandatory period of service. The audit also questioned the legality of his initial appointment as an Operator/Gauge Reader.
The report further states that Mazhar Ali was first transferred from the post of Tracer (BPS-5) to Gauge Reader before being promoted to Sub-Engineer. According to the audit, both his initial adjustment and subsequent promotion did not comply with the relevant rules, while the proceedings of the Departmental Promotion Committee (DPC) relating to his promotion were not produced during the audit.
Similarly, the report says Nadeem Khan was promoted from Operator Motor Grader to Gauge Reader and later to Sub-Engineer, although the relevant service rules did not provide for such adjustments. In another case, Shah Fahd was promoted from Work Secretary (BPS-7) to Sub-Engineer against the quota reserved for the family of a deceased employee. The audit states that he had neither passed the required departmental examinations nor were the proceedings of the Departmental Promotion Committee made available for scrutiny.
The audit also observed that the educational credentials of the officials concerned had not been verified by the relevant examination boards and universities by the close of the audit. It attributed the irregularities to alleged violations of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Public Service Appointment Rules.
The report states that audit authorities sought an explanation from the department in December 2023. In response, the administration said a detailed reply would be submitted later and that the officials’ academic credentials would be verified.
Subsequently, the department maintained that all appointments and promotions had been made in accordance with the applicable rules. However, the audit authorities said they were not satisfied with the explanation.
The audit has recommended that officials found to have been appointed or promoted in violation of the rules be reverted to their substantive posts, and that a high-level inquiry be conducted to determine responsibility. It also called for legal action against those found responsible, in accordance with the law.
