The appointment of the Executive Director of the National Information Technology Board (NITB) has once again been delayed as a result of the Prime Minister’s Office returning the summary for the appointment of a new Executive Director to the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication (MoITT).
The summary has apparently been returned because Saleem Munir, the best candidate on the three-person panel, reportedly received employment with a Saudi Arabian IT firm, according to MoITT sources.
According to MoITT, the IT Minister is demonstrating a personal interest in this issue, and the ministry is determined to rapidly nominating a candidate for this job. Sources claim that the ministry will shortly transmit a revised summary to the Prime Minister’s Office after taking the names of the remaining qualified candidates into account.
One month ago, the IT Ministry finished its shortlist of three applicants and submitted it for approval to the Prime Minister’s Office. The job has been vacant for one year. Out of 313 applications, 13 were chosen by the MoITT for further review, and 10 applicants met with the selection panel’s four members.
It should be emphasised that the Executive Director is also in charge of legal matters for the NITB. Syed Husnain Abbas Kazmi, who already holds the title of Director General Administration, received additional authority as Executive Director from the government in July 2021.