MULTAN: The Punjab Daanish Schools and Centres of Excellence Authority (PDSCEA) hired a general manger after altering criteria for the post in his favour, Dawn has learnt.

The applicant was previously declared ineligible for the deputy manager`s slot.

Civil Engineer Bilal Khalid had submitted an application to PDSCEA manager admin/HR and coordination on Aug 19, 2016 for the Grade-18 post of deputy manager (engineering) OG-H against an advertisement.

According to the ad, a candidate was required to have served as executive engineer or equivalent in public or private sector development/management besides having at least 10-year experience in civil construction, building projects and project management.

Khalid`s application was rejected and he was declared ineligible for the post on Aug 23 as he did not have the relevant construction experience. Later, another advertisement was published in October 2016 for four vacancies, including one general manager (engineering).

Sources said Mr Khalid applied, but did not have the experience of at least 15 years required for the post; he also did not meet the age criterion. They said the only way to accommodate him was to re-advertise the vacancy after altering the criteria for the post as per his credentials.

A new advertisement was published on Nov 4, 2016 mentioning requirement of a minimum of 16-year education in civilengineering,10-yearuninterruptedexperienceincivil or construction work/project management among other criteria.

The sources said interestingly two mangers were appointed for whom minimum requirement was at least 10 to 15 years of experience more than the requirement advertised for the GM`s post.

Eventually, Mr Khalid was appointed as general manger (engineering)on Jan26,2017.

PDSCEA Manager Admin/Human Resource and Coordination retired Lt Col Jawad Ahmad Malik claimed that the appointment was made on merit and there was no wrongdoing involved.

`A selection board consisting of competent persons conducted the interview of Mr Khalid and recommended his appointment,` he added.