LAHORE: Chief Secretary of Punjab Major (r) Azam Suleman Khan has on Thursday been removed. He has been replaced by Mr Jawwad Rafique Malik who was previously serving as Secretary, Communications Division, reported Naya Daur.
According to a notification issued by Deputy Secretary of the government of Pakistan Mariam Kayani, Azam Suleman Khan has been transferred and directed to report to Establishment Division, with immediate effect.
This is the fourth time during the last 20 months that the Chief Secretary of Punjab has been changed. Azam Suleman Khan had been appointed to this position in November 2019. He had replaced Yousaf Naeem Khokhar in this position.
Malik belongs to the Pakistan Administrative Service and is batchmates with Fawad Hasan Fawad. He has also served as the Chairman of the National Highway Authority in the past. Malik also served as Commissioner of Punjab under former Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif and later as Punjab’s Health Secretary in 2015.
"Major Khan's transfer indicates that governance arrangements agreed between Imran Khan and the establishment are undergoing change. Reports had suggested that CM Buzdar's performance was a cause of concern and this is why powers had been concentrated in the hands of the former Chief Secretary. What will be the new arrangement, remains to be seen," commented an analyst who did not want to be named.
According to a notification issued by Deputy Secretary of the government of Pakistan Mariam Kayani, Azam Suleman Khan has been transferred and directed to report to Establishment Division, with immediate effect.
This is the fourth time during the last 20 months that the Chief Secretary of Punjab has been changed. Azam Suleman Khan had been appointed to this position in November 2019. He had replaced Yousaf Naeem Khokhar in this position.
Malik belongs to the Pakistan Administrative Service and is batchmates with Fawad Hasan Fawad. He has also served as the Chairman of the National Highway Authority in the past. Malik also served as Commissioner of Punjab under former Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif and later as Punjab’s Health Secretary in 2015.
"Major Khan's transfer indicates that governance arrangements agreed between Imran Khan and the establishment are undergoing change. Reports had suggested that CM Buzdar's performance was a cause of concern and this is why powers had been concentrated in the hands of the former Chief Secretary. What will be the new arrangement, remains to be seen," commented an analyst who did not want to be named.