PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Public Service Commission has turned into a favourite post-retirement place for senior bureaucrats and technocrats because of attractive salary, perks and privileges.

Senior bureaucrats serving in the province even prefer to get premature retirement to occupy seat in the commission for three years.

A senior officer who is to retire this year was made a member of the commission last year.

Sarhad Development Authority (SDA) chairman Mohammad Ashfaq Khan was appointed the commission`s member in October 2014, while his retirement is due in October 2015.

The provincial establishment department had appointed five senior bureaucrats and technocrats as members of the commission last year. The appointments were notified on October 26, 2014.

The appointees included Mohammad Farooq Swati, Dr Zia Mohammad, Professor Yar Mohammad Maghmoom Khattak, Mohammad Hamayun Khattak and Mohammad Ashfaq Khan.

Two members, including Dr Mohammad Farooq Swati, a meritorious professor, and Hamayun Khan, the agriculture secretary, got pre-mature retirement to join their new assignment.

One of the appointed members, MohammadAshfaq, a grade-20 officer, who before joining SDA had served as principal secretary to Chief Minister Pervez Khattak, has yet to assume the office.

Mohammad Ashfaq had in past served as the irrigation secretary with Pervez Khattak when he was the irrigation minister in the previous provincial coalition government of Awami National Party and Pakistan People`s Party.

When approached, Mr Ashfaq said his retirement was due in coming October, but he had submitted application to get premature retirement and requested the government to relieve him in coming June.

If his application is approved by the competent authority, then he will join the commission in June otherwise the seat will be lying vacant till his joining.

Officials said the salary package and other privileges being offered to the members of the commission were attracting the outgoing bureaucrats to become members of the body, which recruited offi-cials of grade 16 and above for government departments.

Member of the provincial commission is appointed for a period of three years.

He or she is paid Rs186,000 salary per month that includes Rs50,000 house rent.

Every member is provided an official car with driver and an orderly.

An official in the commission said a proposal was under consideration to enhance salary package of the commission members from Rs186,000 to around Rs300,000.

He said the salary enhancement package was awaiting provincial cabinet approval.The current strength of the commission is 11 including its chairman. One seat has been lying vacant.

The government has planned to increase the number of PSC members in an attempt to expedite recruitment process in the province.

The government often blames the commission for slow process of recruitment of employees particularly in health and education sectors which has resulte d in chronic delay of filling sanctioned posts.

The government says thousands of posts of grade 16 and above have been lying vacant due to slow process of selection.

Minister for information Mushtaq Ghani admitted the commission was understaffed and that a proposal was under consideration to increase the number of its members to enhance its capacity. He said Mohammad Ashfaq`s appointment was legal and that the existing act authorised the chief minister to recommend a qualified person for the member`s post.