An exposure has emerged of administrative opacity and violations of rules and regulations at the prestigious public-sector educational institution of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the “Pak-Austria Fachhochschule Institute of Applied Sciences and Technology.”
According to media reports, even years after the completion of the institution and the appointment of a rector, 68-year-old Naseer Khan continues to hold his position as Project Director (PD).
Documents available to the media reveal that despite the approval of a summary for his removal by the provincial government and the Governor of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, no official notification has yet been issued, giving rise to several doubts and suspicions.
Administrative complications and hefty privileges
Media reports state that Naseer Khan retired from the University of Peshawar in May 2018 at the age of 60, yet he was retained in violation of rules.
The institution did not even have an approved permanent position for a Project Director, yet the rector formally inducted him into the institution’s service.
Allegedly, Naseer Khan’s monthly salary is 2.5 million rupees, on which he avoided responding to media questions.
From temporary appointment to permanent absorption
The background of this case revolves around the establishment of the institution and its administrative policies.
Naseer Khan was temporarily appointed as PD in 2016, and his contract expired in 2019, but he continued working without interruption.
In 2021, the Higher Education Department (HED), in the presence of the rector, declared the PD position unnecessary and recommended his removal.
This recommendation was approved by the Chief Minister and the Governor, but the file was shelved.
Along with the PD, 26 additional officers were also transferred from the Project Management Unit (PMU) to the university’s regular payroll, which appears to be a violation of the provincial project policy.
Lack of transparency and financial implications
An analysis of the matter highlights several key legal and ethical concerns. The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa project policy clearly does not allow the regular absorption of any project employee into a department.
Naseer Khan’s argument that these rules do not apply to a “semi-autonomous institution” is a weak defense, as compliance with provincial laws is mandatory when public funds are involved.
It is worth noting that at a time when the province is facing a financial crisis, retaining a retired individual on a monthly salary of 2.5 million rupees, and continuing the position of PD even after the institution’s completion, places a heavy burden on the public treasury.
Administratively, when a fully functional rector is already in place, maintaining a parallel position of Project Director leads to a conflict of authority and mismanagement.
Additionally, Naseer Khan argues that new PC-1 projects such as a School of Medicine and Dentistry are under consideration, making his position necessary, while critics view this as a tactic to prolong his stay.
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