ISLAMABAD: After being vacant for 20-days, the federal government has appointed a new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for the National Highway Authority (NHA).
According to a notification issued by the Establishment Division, Capt. (Retd.) Asadullah Khan has been appointed as the new CEO of NHA. The notification, which was obtained by Daily Times, states that Capt. Asadullah Khan, who was previously serving in the Punjab government, has been transferred with immediate effect.
His official posting will be made by the National Highway Council in accordance with the National Highway Authority Act, 1991, as amended earlier this year.
Capt. Asadullah Khan, a Grade 21 officer of the Pakistan Administrative Service (PAS), brings nearly approximately three decades of experience to serve against this role. He joined the civil service in 1996 and has since held numerous key administrative positions. His notable contributions include in Metro Bus projects in Lahore and Multan during the tenure of current Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif as Chief Minister of Punjab.
In addition to his work on the Metro Bus projects, Capt. Khan has held several high-profile roles, including Commissioners Multan and Bahawalpur Divisions, Managing Director of the Punjab Mineral Development Corporation, Additional Secretary for Poverty Alleviation and Secretary of Housing and Urban Development in Punjab.
According to some his close aids, he is known for his integrity and uprightness. He has a reputation for making principled decisions and ensuring transparency in all of his endeavors.
A senior official at NHA commented that NHA get a good administrator at the time when the organization faces a series of significant challenges. “The NHA direly needed a person who can handle large-scale projects and managing public sector departments,” he said, adding that the appointed chief is anticipated as a capable administrator who is adept at navigating complex bureaucratic structures.
The position fell vacant earlier this month when Muhammad Sheryar Sultan was removed from his position along with member administration Umer Saeed Chaudhry. The said removal was practiced due to their alleged involvement in wrongdoings, corruption and embezzlement of funds in NHA. The both officials were removed by Prime Shehbaz Sharif in result of an inquiry against them for said charges of corruptions, irregularities and embezzlement of funds in NHA.
