Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has established a selection board tasked with appointing the next Secretary of Information Technology and Telecommunication (MoIT&T) from the open market. This move aligns with the government’s efforts to recruit top-tier private sector professionals for key technical roles in order to boost the efficiency of its ministries.
The five-member board will be chaired by Federal Minister for Economic Affairs, Ahad Cheema, and includes Minister of State for IT and Telecom Shaza Fatima Khawaja, Cabinet Division Secretary Kamran Ali Afzal, Establishment Division Secretary Inamullah Dharejo, and Secretary for Commerce Jawad Paul.
In response to an earlier call for applications by the Establishment Division, a shortlisting committee led by the Additional Secretary of the Establishment Division reviewed and shortlisted qualified candidates for the role. The decision to hire an IT Secretary from the private sector was finalized, and an official recruitment advertisement was published in early August.
According to the advertisement, applicants must have at least 20 years of experience in the IT sector and should be under the age of 60. The position will be offered on a two-year contract, with the possibility of an extension. The selected candidate will receive a competitive salary ranging from Rs. 1.5 to 2 million per month under the Special Professional Pay Scale.
The move to recruit a professional from the private sector is part of the government’s broader strategy to enhance the expertise of technical ministries. The Senate Standing Committee has also taken an interest in the process, requesting a detailed report on the selection criteria from the Establishment Division.
Sources within the Establishment Division indicate that the decision is aimed at bringing specialized skills and experience to the ministry, with the goal of improving governance and service delivery in the IT and Telecommunications sector.
