PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has dismissed Javed Iqbal Khattak from his position as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Economic Zone Development and Management Company (KP-EZDMC), following a recommendation from the provincial cabinet.
According to a notification issued by the Secretary of Industries and Commerce KP on Monday, the provincial government terminated Khattak’s contract under the Companies Act 2017, in accordance with the provincial cabinet’s decision. Adil Salahuddin, the Chief Commercial Officer (CCO), has been appointed as the acting CEO of the company.
Official documents reveal that during a provincial cabinet meeting in Islamabad on August 29, the Secretary of Industries and Commerce stated that under the Companies Act 2017, Khattak was initially appointed as CEO of KP-EZDMC for a three-year term from March 18, 2020, to March 17, 2023.
The secretary also noted that on December 13, 2022, the interim provincial government reappointed Khattak as CEO for another three years, from March 19, 2023, to March 18, 2026, without following the prescribed procedure.
The secretary had requested the provincial cabinet to approve Khattak’s dismissal under the Companies Act, appoint the Chief Commercial Officer as the acting CEO, and initiate the process of appointing a new CEO. The provincial cabinet approved this request after consideration.
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Meanwhile, the dismissed CEO, Javed Iqbal Khattak, said that he has decided to challenge the provincial government’s decision in court, claiming that his dismissal is illegal.