By Nadeem Tanoli
Islamabad: After the auditor general raised objection over the promotion from Deputy Director to the Director, Punjab Council of Arts, Mr. Abrar Alam is removed from the post of Executive Director PC and Ms. Saman Rai has assumed the head of the organization.
Sources said, after multiple complaints and audit objections regarding the promotion of Abrar Alam from the post of the Deputy Director (Programs) BS-18 to Director (BS-19) Abrar Alam is removed from the post of Executive Director, Punjab Council of Arts.
Sources informed that Abrar Alam was promoted from Assistant Director (BS-17) to Deputy Director (BS-18) in November 2017 and only after one month, in December 2017, the officer was again promoted from Deputy Director to Director and was also assigned charge of Executive Director PCA in August 2021.
A recent audit report for the period 2017-20 by the Auditor General Punjab states service period as regular deputy director in BS-18 was not completed upto 5 years and promotion of director was irregular. Further, payroll of the officers/officials were not produced, Audit could not calculate the financial impact of irregular promotions.
Abrar Alam joined the PCA in 1987 as Assistant, later his promotion from Assistant BS-11 to Assistant Director BS-17 was converted to initial regular appointment in the year 2003 allegedly against the rules and regulations.
Later, in 2008, September 25, the Services and General Administration Department, through a letter vide No (S&GAD)2-73/2008 stated Regulation Wing S&GAD observes that, as the post of Assistant Director was a direct recruitment post, therefore, the promotion of Mr. Abrar Alam from the post of Assistant to the post of Assistant Director was illegal. The conversion of promotion into initial appointment as Assistant Director without observing any formality was also illegal.
Sources maintain that the Information and Culture Department, Government of Punjab on a complaint of a citizen Rana Almas also holding an inquiry regarding the promotions of Abrar Alam from the post of Assistant to Director, Punjab Council of Arts.
Despite repeated attempts, Abrar Alam could not be reached for comments.