LAHORE: The Punjab government on Wednesday replaced Health Secretary Jawad Rafique Malik by Najam Ahmad Shah.

Jawad Rafique Malik, who has been transferred and posted as Member Colonies of Board of Revenue, belongs to 15th Common while Najam Shah, who served as the chief executive officer of the Quaid-iAzam Solar Park, is from 26th Common. Gulzar Ahmad Shah (25th Common) is currently working in a lower grade (as special secretary) at the same department.

The development has come at a time when the health department is confronting many issues such as deaths of children due to diphtheria and acute shortage of life-saving equipment and medicines in government hospitals of Punjab.

A senior official told Dawn that three top officials of the health department were being indicted for the diphtheria-related deaths in Punjab and action was likely to be tal(en against them in a couple of weeks. He said seniority, experience and competence level were usually considered while making appointments of heads of the government departments.

`Mr Jawad had recommended three names for new health secretary on the basis of sound background and experience in the health sector,` the official said. They were: Lahore Division Commissioner Abdullah Sumbal, Punjab Excise & Taxation Secretary Dr Ahmad Bilal and Faisalabad Division Commissioner Nasim Nawaz. He said Mr Sumbal had served the health department as special secretary while Ahmad Bilal is a graduate of the King Edward Medical University, Lahore.

Ignoring the valuable recommendations of Mr Jawad, he said the government preferred a junior officer for the job.