Contract employee appointed as acting head of NICVD raises legal concerns
KARACHI: A serious violation of administrative and service rules has surfaced at the National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases (NICVD) Karachi, where a contract-based employee has been appointed as the acting head of Pakistan’s premier cardiac institution.
According to credible official sources, Executive Director Dr. Tahir Saghir sought leave to travel abroad from October 26, 2025, which was duly approved. During his absence, Professor Khuwaja Amin Muhammad, an anesthetist, has been assigned additional charge as acting executive director.
However, what has sparked controversy is that Professor Khawaja is a contract employee who retired five years ago, making his appointment a potential violation of the Sindh government’s service rules. The position of executive director at NICVD is a Grade 20 or 21 post, which, under provincial regulations, cannot be held by a contractual or retired individual.
Concerns over violation of service rules
Sources within the institution allege that Dr. Tahir Saghir has personally approved repeated contract extensions for Professor Khawaja, despite clear regulatory restrictions prohibiting such administrative actions. Health department insiders confirm that delegating additional charge of a senior post to a retired contract employee lacks legal standing and undermines the transparency of administrative procedures.
Health department officials seek review
Officials from the Sindh Health Department have termed the decision “administratively irregular,” emphasizing that appointments of such senior designations must be based on merit and service law compliance. They further noted that only serving officers within the relevant pay scale are eligible to hold additional charge of such posts.
Medical community calls for inquiry
The decision has drawn sharp criticism from within the medical fraternity, with senior healthcare professionals calling for a transparent inquiry into the appointment. They argue that public health institutions like NICVD must uphold administrative integrity and meritocracy to maintain public trust.
Observers stress that such irregular appointments not only raise governance concerns but also set a dangerous precedent for rule violations in other public sector health institutions across Sindh.
The bottom line
The controversy surrounding the NICVD’s leadership underscores the need for strict adherence to government service rules, transparency in administrative appointments, and accountability in public health governance.
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