Health ministry grants relief to PIMS official previously dismissed over corruption charges

ISLAMABAD: A Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) employee whose services were terminated following a corruption inquiry has been granted retirement benefits after the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination changed his punishment to compulsory retirement.

Maqboolur Rehman, a Grade-16 private secretary in PIMS' Department of General Surgery, was found involved in issuing fake house job certificates to house officers, according to the inquiry findings.

The investigation established that 24 fraudulent certificates had allegedly been issued in return for money. It also traced financial transactions linked to the case through Rehman's bank account.

During the inquiry, Rehman reportedly acknowledged the corruption allegations against him.

Following disciplinary proceedings, former PIMS Executive Director Professor Imran Sikandar terminated his services through an order issued on May 30 under the Civil Servants Rules.

However, the Health Ministry has now replaced the dismissal penalty with compulsory retirement. Rehman was also scheduled to retire on May 30.

The revised decision makes him eligible for a pension and other retirement benefits, which would not have been available to him under the original dismissal order.

The change in penalty has raised questions about the ministry's decision to revise the punishment despite the findings of the departmental inquiry.