PM Shehbaz approves summary for appointment of FDE chief

ISLAMABAD(National Times)- After a delay of around three years, the Federal Directorate of Education (FDE) is all set to have a regular director general (DG), as Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has approved the summary in this regard.

However, sources in the education ministry said the appointment of the DG was subject to the verification of educational and other documents, domicile and experience certificates.

The post fell vacant in July 2023 and since then Ministry of Education has been running the organisation, which oversees over 430 schools and colleges in Islamabad, under ad hoc arrangements.

Last year, the ministry of education referred the appointment of the DG to Federal Public Service Commission (FPSC), which after tests and an interview recommended the name of the topper to the education ministry for appointment on March 4. However, the federal government did not make the appointment on time that resulted in litigation as the shortlisted candidate, Javed Iqbal Mirza, challenged the government action in Islamabad High Court.

However, it surfaced on Monday that the prime minister has approved the summary and subsequently, according to sources in the education ministry, an offer letter was issued by the ministry to Mr Mirza with several conditions on Monday.

The sources said Mr Mirza, who is already serving as the director administration at FDE, has accepted the offer.

A senior officer of the ministry confirmed to Dawn that an offer letter had been issued in favour of Mr Mirza. However, a schoolteacher wishing not to be named said: “Until a proper notification is issued, we can’t believe as the ministry of education and federal government have been dragging the matter from March 4 (when FPSC approved appointment of the candidate in question).”

The sources said that after waiting for a few months for his appointment letter, last month Mr Mirza filed a petition in Islamabad High Court, seeking his appointment in the light of FPSC’s recommendation. The next hearing was slated to be held during the second week of June and education ministry was supposed to submit its reply.

“FPSC is the supreme recruitment body of the country which also conducts exams for the Central Superior Services (CSS) and the federal government should have honoured its recommendations within a few days. Let’s see, today an offer letter has been issued and things will be clearer in coming days,” said an official of FDE.