ISLAMABAD, Aug 16: The government on Saturday transferred federal health secretary Khushnood Lashari and posted him as environment secretary.

Mr Lashari has been replaced with Mehmood Salim Mehmood, now serving as secretary to the ministry of women’s development.

Sources believe Mr Lashari was annoyed with the director general of health, a political appointee, for his efforts to get greater authority in the affairs of the ministry.

Although the change was in the wind for several weeks now, it has come at a time when US Health Secretary Michael Leavitt is to start his Pakistan visit on Monday.