Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has formed a five-member selection board to appoint a Secretary of Information Technology and Telecommunication from the open market. The board will consider candidates with 20 years of IT experience, offering a contract-based position with a salary of Rs. 1.5-2 million per month.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has formed a five-member selection board to appoint the Secretary of Information Technology and Telecommunication (MoIT&T) from the open market. The board will be led by Federal Minister for Economic Affairs Ahad Cheema, and also includes Minister of State for IT and Telecom Division Shaza Fatima Khawaja, Cabinet Division Secretary Kamran Ali Afzal, Establishment Division Secretary Inamullah Dharejo, and Secretary for Commerce Jawad Paul.
The Establishment Division had called for applications from eligible candidates, and a shortlisting committee reviewed and shortlisted the candidates. The decision to hire an IT Secretary from the private sector was finalized, and the recruitment advertisement was released in the first week of August.
The advertisement outlined that applicants must have a minimum of 20 years of experience in the IT sector, with an upper age limit set at 60 years. The position is offered on a contract basis for two years, with the possibility of extension. The selected candidate will receive a salary under the Special Professional Pay Scale, ranging between Rs. 1.5 to 2 million per month.
The move is part of the government’s strategy to bring in specialized professionals from the private sector to improve the performance of technical ministries. The Senate Standing Committee has taken notice of the appointment process and requested a detailed report from the Establishment Division on the selection criteria and procedures.
According to sources in the Establishment Division, the decision is aimed at enhancing the technical expertise within the ministry and ensuring more efficient management of its affairs. The hiring of a private sector professional is seen as a step towards better governance and improved service delivery in the IT and Telecommunications sector.
