ISLAMABAD: The federal government has moved Capt. (Retd.) Asadullah Khan, a BS-21 officer of the Pakistan Administrative Service, to the Communications Division for his appointment as Chief Executive Officer of the National Highway Authority (NHA).

A notification issued by the Establishment Division stated that the officer, who was serving under the Punjab government, has been transferred with immediate effect.

His posting as NHA chief will be made by the National Highway Council under the provisions of the National Highway Authority Act, 1991, as amended earlier this year.

The position fell vacant last month when its last incumbent Sheryar Sultan was removed from his position along with member administration Umer Saeed Chaudhry.

The said removal were followed by an inquiry ordered by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif over wrongdoings, corruption and embezzlement of funds in NHA.

Capt. (Retd.) Asadullah Khan is a senior officer of the Pakistan Administrative Service with nearly three decades of government service.

He joined PAS in 1996 and steadily moved through key administrative and provincial assignments before being promoted to BS-21 in 2021.

He is the son of Let. General retired Zia Ullah Khan.

He remained posted on high profile positions including Commissioner Multan and Bahawalpur Divisions, MD Punjab Mineral Department Corporation, Additional Secretary Poverty Elevation, Secretary Housing and Urban Development Punjab.

He is considered a close and trustworthy bureaucrat of ruling Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz especially prime minister Shehbaz Sharif as Mr. khan also completed Multan Metro project under his supervision.