ISLAMABAD, April 5: The chief executive officer of the Information Communication Technology Research and Development Fund (ICTRDF) is likely to step down due to bureaucratic hurdles created by the ministry of IT and telecommunication.

According to a technology expert, it was the guarantee limited company’s funds amounting to around Rs7 billion which always attracted the eyes of bureaucrats and ministers, creating problems for smooth working of the organisation.

The fund was established in 2007 with 0.5 per cent share of the revenue generated by all the telecom operators, aimed at promoting ICT research and industry.

The fund has a board of directors comprising academia, technology company chief executive officers and members of the telecom operators.

“The ICTRDF’s money is pooled in by all the telecom companies which have been issued licences by the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA),” said the expert.

It may be noted that in July 2010 when Sardar Latif Khosa was adviser on IT & telecom, six out of the 12 directors of the fund were shown the door after they did not comply with his order to appoint a CEO of his choice.

The chief executive officer of the ICTRDF is to work independently since it has a board of directors. However, a recent letter by the IT ministry directed heads of all the attached departments to refrain from attending official meetings without seeking prior approval from the secretary IT and telecom, which is in violation of rules applicable to official decorum and conduct.

The letter was sent by the office of the secretary IT to the director general of Pakistan Computer Bureau, rector of Virtual University, chairman of National Telecommunication Corporation, managing director Pakistan Software Export Board, executive director Electronic Government Directorate, managing director Telecom Foundation, managing director Pakistan Telecommunication Employees Trust, chief executive officers of R&D Fund and Universal Service Fund.

However, CEO of the ICTRDF, Syed Aun Abbas, in a letter to directors of the fund stated: “This week I received a letter, attached herewith, directing that all official meetings be pre-approved by the secretary IT and reports be provided to the secretary. If this direction is accepted, the role of the CEO would merely be that of an administrator who takes instructions from the secretary IT on all implementation decision.”

It may be recalled that Dr Abbas was selected by the board of the fund in 2011.

He further stated in the letter: “After having experienced the dynamics over the last few months, I have lost any hope for improvement in this regard.

In consideration of the above, I have come to the conclusion that it is time to raise the matter in front of the board.

I have also concluded that I will not be able to continue servicing the Fund for my whole tenure anymore and tender my resignation in front of the board.”

Despite repeated attempts, the acting secretary of the ministry of IT and Telecom Farooq Awan was not available for comment on the development.