By Digital Spartans 
The federal government has made another change at the Ministry of National Health Services, replacing the official currently holding the additional charge of health secretary within a month of the PIMS tragedy.
According to a government notification, the additional charge of Secretary of the Ministry of National Health Services has been withdrawn from Capt. (Retd.) Muhammad Mahmood.
The government has assigned the additional responsibility to Dr. Muhammad Fakhar Alam Irfan, Secretary of the Power Division.
Dr. Fakhar Alam Irfan is a BS-22 officer and has been given the additional charge of Secretary of the National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination Division for a period of three months.
The notification states that his additional charge will continue for three months or until a regular health secretary is appointed, whichever occurs earlier.
Despite taking over the additional responsibility at the health ministry, Dr. Fakhar Alam Irfan will continue to perform his existing duties as Secretary of the Power Division.
The latest administrative change represents the second replacement involving the health secretary position within a month of the PIMS tragedy, adding to scrutiny surrounding the leadership and administration of the federal health sector.
The decision comes as the Ministry of National Health Services continues to manage its responsibilities through an additional-charge arrangement rather than a permanent appointment to the secretary’s position.
Assigning the additional charge to a senior BS-22 officer allows the government to maintain continuity in the ministry’s administrative operations while the process for appointing a regular secretary remains pending.
Dr. Fakhar Alam Irfan will now have to oversee the responsibilities of the National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination Division alongside his existing role in the Power Division.
The dual assignment means the official will be responsible for two major areas of the federal government’s administrative structure during the period of the temporary arrangement.
The Ministry of National Health Services plays a central role in coordinating federal health policies, regulations and matters involving national-level healthcare administration.
The appointment of an additional secretary is therefore significant for the ministry’s day-to-day functioning, particularly while the government considers a permanent arrangement for the position.
The notification does not indicate how soon a regular health secretary will be appointed. For now, Dr. Fakhar Alam Irfan is expected to continue handling the additional responsibility until the three-month period ends or a permanent secretary takes charge.
The latest move also highlights the government’s ongoing efforts to reorganize senior administrative responsibilities following developments surrounding the federal health sector.
As Dr. Fakhar Alam Irfan retains his position as Power Division secretary, the government will need to manage the demands of both assignments during the interim period.
Further changes could follow once the federal government finalizes the appointment of a permanent Secretary of the National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination Division.
For now, the immediate change places Dr. Fakhar Alam Irfan in charge of the health ministry’s secretarial responsibilities while Capt. (Retd.) Muhammad Mahmood’s additional charge has been withdrawn.
The development is likely to remain under attention as the government continues to review administrative arrangements within the federal health sector following the PIMS tragedy.