KARACHI: Serious allegations of large-scale violations of rules have surfaced regarding a recent Departmental Promotion Committee (DPC) meeting of the Sindh Health Department for the promotion of nurses to Grade-17, in which junior nurses were allegedly awarded senior administrative positions while many eligible senior nurses were excluded from consideration on what complainants described as unnecessary, arbitrary, or unjustified grounds.
According to sources, a total of 48 nurses were promoted to Grade-17 in the recent DPC and subsequently posted to various administrative and institutional positions. The promotions allegedly violated established service rules and seniority principles governing the specialist nursing cadre.
Sources said that under the applicable departmental rules, 75 percent of Grade-17 posts are required to be filled through departmental promotions, while the remaining 25 percent are to be filled exclusively through the Sindh Public Service Commission (SPSC). It was alleged that these mandatory provisions were ignored during the recent promotion exercise.
Sources further alleged that the irregularities were carried out through the collusion of the concerned section officer, certain administrative officials at the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC), and some office-bearers of the Young Nurses Association (YNA).
It was claimed that the Provincial Health Minister Dr Azra Fazal Pechuho, Sindh Health Secretary Rehan Iqbal Baloch, and the newly appointed Executive Director JPMC, Prof Khalid Sher, were not aware of the alleged violations and were kept in dark by the concerned SO and staff.
According to sources, junior-most nurses were allegedly inserted into the seniority list and subsequently assigned key administrative and institutional positions, superseding senior and otherwise eligible nurses. It was further alleged that a good number of senior nurses were excluded from even being considered for promotion on what complainants described as unnecessary technical objections or arbitrary grounds.
Serious allegations of illegal monetary collection have also been levelled against two provincial office-bearers of the Young Nurses Association. Sources claimed that nurses were allegedly asked to pay at least Rs100,000 per person in cash, reportedly in the name of the concerned section officer, in exchange for inclusion in the DPC and promotion.
According to sources, a meeting of nurses was allegedly held on October 25, 2025, at the Chief Nursing Superintendent Office, School of Nursing, JPMC, where the demand for immediate cash payment was made. Nurses were reportedly warned that failure to comply would result in their exclusion from the DPC process.
Sources added that some nurses objected, stating that promotion was their legal and statutory right, but were allegedly subjected to pressure and intimidation. Senior nurses were also reportedly compelled to pay the demanded amount under duress. It was further alleged that cash collections continued at various locations within JPMC and that nurses were repeatedly sent WhatsApp messages to ensure full payment.
Affected senior nurses alleged that several eligible candidates were completely excluded from the DPC, while junior nurses were promoted and assigned key positions after allegedly paying substantial sums of money.
In this regard, written complaints have been submitted to the Executive Director JPMC and the Sindh Health Secretary. Sources confirmed that the JPMC administration summoned affected nurses and conducted a briefing, during which the names of alleged facilitators were reportedly disclosed.
Responding to questions sent by this correspondent, a spokesperson for JPMC confirmed that complaints had been received and forwarded to the Sindh Health Department, stating that JPMC was not the competent authority for promotions in BPS-17 and above.
Former YNA Sindh President and current general member Aijaz Kaleri, in his response, stated that he had no role whatsoever in the recent DPC proceedings for Grade-17 nurse promotions and was not involved in any official or unofficial capacity. He clarified that he is not currently an office-bearer of the YNA and that the tenure of the existing YNA cabinet had expired around six months ago, with elections yet to be conducted.
He said he was completely unaware of any monetary collection linked to promotions. He added that any individual claiming coercion or illegal demands should approach the relevant authorities or legal forums and that any such allegations should be independently investigated if credible evidence is available.
Repeated attempts were made to obtain comments from Sindh Health Secretary Rehan Iqbal Baloch, the concerned section officer, current UNA leadership inclul, and other officials named in the allegations; however, no response was received till the filing of this report.
