ISLAMABAD: The Indus River System Authority on Friday notified the secretary of irrigation for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has assumed the role of Irsa chairman until the appointment of a regular KP member.
The federal government has delayed the appointment of Engineer Sahibzada Muhammad Shabir, who was nominated by KP as its member on Sept 10.
“Muhammad Ayaz, Secretary Irrigation Department, Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa/Member Irsa KP has assumed the charge of the office of Irsa chairman with effect from Oct 18, 2024, till the appointment of regular member KP,” said the notification issued by the regulator.
The position of KP’s Irsa member has been vacant since May 8, following the completion of Engineer Zahid Abbas’s four-year tenure. Over the following six months, the KP government could not nominate his successor. Interestingly, the KP government spent six years to appoint its previous member in May 2020.
Under Irsa’s regulations, the chairmanship rotates annually among the four provincial members and a federal representative. The rotation begins with Balochistan, followed by KP, Punjab, Sindh and the federal government. The chairmanship became vacant on Oct 17 after the one-year term of Balochistan’s member, Abdul Hameed Mengal, ended.
The law also required that in the absence of a member representing a province, the secretary irrigation department of that province should represent that province. Since the KP has no regular member, the irrigation secretary has automatically become a member and, therefore, Irsa chairman. Interestingly, Mr Ayaz rarely attended Irsa meetings during the KP member vacancy.
Published in Dawn, October 19th, 2024
