KARACHI: In a blatant violation of the Chief Secretary Sindh’s official notification regarding Ramadan office timings, an official of the Deputy Director General, RMNCH, Directorate General Health Services (DGHS) Sindh, Hyderabad, allegedly exercised unauthorized powers by altering the official working hours.
Mr. Sohaib Roomi, an Assistant (BPS-16) holding additional charge as Superintendent (BPS-17), unlawfully directed staff to report at 9:00 AM instead of the officially notified 10:00 AM, in direct defiance of the Sindh government’s official order issued on February 28, 2025, by Chief Secretary Sindh, Asif Hyder Shah.
Adding to the controversy, this incident occurred on the day of Health Secretary Sindh Mr. Rehan Baloch’s official visit to the DGHS office in Hyderabad. Instead of ensuring a smooth and compliant environment for the visit, Mr. Roomi reportedly exploited the Health Secretary’s presence to enforce his unauthorized directive, further misusing his position to assert control over office operations.
Additionally, multiple staff members who arrived at the official 10:00 AM start time were barred from marking their attendance, allegedly on Mr. Roomi’s orders. This move has led to widespread frustration among employees, who see it as an abuse of authority and direct defiance of government orders.
According to government regulations, an official in BPS-16 or BPS-17 lacks the authority to override or modify official notifications issued by the Chief Secretary Sindh. His actions also suggest an attempt to exercise the powers of the Deputy Director General (RMNCH).
The incident has sparked concerns over accountability and discipline within the Sindh Health Department, with employees now demanding an immediate inquiry into Mr. Roomi’s actions. They have called on Chief Secretary Sindh, Secretary Sindh and DG Health Sindh to take strict action against this unauthorized directive and ensure compliance with official Ramadan working hours.
Furthermore, staff members have urged authorities to nullify the attendance restrictions imposed by Mr. Roomi and restore attendance records for those who arrived at 10:00 AM, in line with the official notification.
With the Health Secretary’s visit now marred by controversy, employees are awaiting the Sindh government’s response to this clear violation of authority and misuse of administrative power.
