LAHORE, Nov 16: The Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) has decided to persist with the policy of departmental examination for promotions in spite of clear instructions from the government to the contrary.

The Cabinet Secretariat and Establishment Division, in letter No 10/7/2000-CPII(M) dated Aug 6, had conveyed to the authority the prime ministerial decision to abolish the tests for promotion from Grade 16 to 17 and 18 to 19.

The letter directed the authority as well as other ministries and departments to follow the promotion policy of 1985 instead of conducting their own examinations.

In pursuance of the same direction, the Auditor General of Pakistan also sent letter No 357/Dir(Estt)I-96/Vol-II to all director-generals and directors to promote audit officers as per new instructions of the government.

But Wapda, in clear violation of the cabinet decision, recently decided to conduct departmental exam as per policy adopted by the previous management, which was headed by Lt-Gen Zulfiqar Ali Khan (Retired). In pursuance of the same policy, its examination cell also issued a schedule for departmental promotion examination for the year 2004 on Oct 10, through circular No GM(Trg)/D/Exam/02043/9254-10654. The schedule covers promotions from Grade 16 to 17 and 18 to 19.

It may be mentioned here that Wapda had adopted the policy of departmental exams for promotion under the military-led management which was of the opinion that a set pattern of promotions promoted inefficiency and laxity. Instead it opted for promotion tests to bring some “improvement” in the organization, as done by many others after the military takeover. However, the new promotion policy came under fire from all around for being unilateral, selective and a recipe for corruption.

Some government employees took the legal route and ultimately succeeded in getting the decision reversed and the 1985 Promotion Policy reintroduced. The government appealed against the court order, but the appeal was dismissed.

Commenting on the situation a Wapda official said over 8,000 employees had been promoted under the examination policy, and a sudden reversal of the policy would create further chaos. The government must investigate why its instructions had not been followed and corrective measures not taken by the authority over the last four months, he added.

In spite of repeated reminders, Wapda has not offered any official explanation for continuation of the exam policy in defiance of the government order.