TFD report
Karachi: KW & SC has officially announced the upcoming appointment of a new executive (CEO) and Operations Head (CO), a step approved by the company’s board of directors. Ads for positions will be published soon in the newspapers, and requests are invited by qualified candidates across Pakistan and abroad.
Until a permanent date is set, Ahmed Ali Siddiqi, who is currently working as the Commissioner West Deputy, was appointed as a temporary executive by the Sindh government. He will continue with this representative ability while also maintaining the operations center until September 30, 2025. The position of CEO has become vacant after the resignation of Salah al -Din Ahmed, who was appointed to the original until September 30, 2026.
The sources indicate that Ahmed Siddiqui has been publicly communicating with KW & SC officials to appoint him temporarily, and does not have the authority to make long -term administrative decisions.
Meanwhile, a wave of activity began between the major bureaucrats and officials who are eager to secure the role of the CEO – which is widely seen as one of the most profitable administrative positions in the boycott due to the budget and the great influence of the organization.
Karachi Water and SEWERAGE Corporation was awarded the autonomy by KW & SC No. PAS/Leamis-B-06/2023, issued on July 5, 2023. The law aimed to cancel the expansion of the tool and give it operational independence. Appointments were imposed on the basis of merit for major executive positions, including CEO, COO, financial manager, chief internal auditors, and legal advisor. However, critics argue that political intervention is still firmly, with the government of Sindh, led by the Pakistani People’s Party over the past 17 years, and has continued to exercise control of appointments and operations.
The law requires the selection of executives based on merit, with a preference for professionals from the public or private sectors who have management experience and a maximum age of 65 years. Moreover, any date for consulting roles or newly created positions must be approved by the Council.
Previously, a private consulting company was appointed by an international financial institution to manage the recruitment process for KWSC. However, this effort was marred by allegations of favoritism, as the main positions were filled without adhering to the merit, which led to the appointment of the appointed who failed to complete their conditions.
The sources claim that Salahuddin Ahmed, a civil engineer and former project manager in KWSSIP, was appointed under doubtful conditions. The selection process has excluded many highly qualified candidates, including PhD holders and master’s degrees with international experience.
The Vice-Chairman of the Foundation, Sayed Najmi Allam, revealed that the consulting company-Sadeh Haider and Partners-was directed to collect a brief list limited to service or retirees from Kratchi, instead of looking at a national or international group. This led to widespread criticism and accusations of deliberate manipulation. Of the 93 applicants from inside Pakistan and abroad, only 13 were interviewed.
It is worth noting that the candidates who have great appreciation such as Zahid Azeer from the Saaf Pani project in Punjab withdrew their requests, and others, such as Nasir Ghafoor Khan, were rejected from Peshawar Wasa, by the Board of Directors. In the end, Salah al -Din Ahmed was chosen, despite questions about his qualifications and the legitimacy of the appointment of retired officials under Article 14 (1) of the Civil Service Rules, which restricts the re -retirement contract. Experts and former executives argue that KW & SC, which serves the 20 million people’s water needs, requires a professional official-political appointment or engineer-to address chronic mismanagement, corruption and the increasing impact of the carrier.
The former MD GHULAM Arif called for a strong and independent official to direct the utility to reform, warning that other political dates may exacerbate the city’s water crisis. The water supply infrastructure is said to be in bad condition, as it leaves the frequent pipeline failure parts of the city without accessing clean water.
Meanwhile, illegal water tanks flourish, and often alleged protection from within the system. The Board of Directors is expected to end the civil standards of the Director of the CEO in accordance with the law. Qualifications may include degrees in civil, electrical or mechanical engineering; Business Administration; finance; commerce; Or accounting from accredited institutions.
Candidates must have at least 20 years of experience and be less than 62 years old at the time of application. The first term is expected to be four years, which can be extended by another three years. When appointing the new CEO, the positions of the Managing Director and Deputy Director of Technical Services will be canceled, which simplifies the leadership structure.
By increasing pressure from civil leaders, financial institutions and legal experts, the spotlight on the KW & SC board is still to ensure a fair and transparent selection process – which gives priority to Karachi’s public interest over political affiliations.
