Pakistan’s health ministry appoints Momin Agha as secretary, marking the ninth appointment under Health Minister Mustafa Kamal since February 2025 amid frequent administrative leadership changes.
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s health ministry has appointed another secretary, with the Establishment Division notifying senior Pakistan Administrative Service (PAS) officer Momin Agha as the new administrative head, raising questions about the frequent changes in the ministry’s leadership.
According to a notification issued by the Establishment Division on Monday and seen by Dawn, Agha, a BS-22 officer, “has been transferred and posted as secretary health with immediate effect and until further orders”.
Agha is the ninth secretary appointed during the tenure of Health Minister Mustafa Kamal, who took the oath of office in February 2025. The repeated changes have drawn attention to the ministry’s administrative continuity and leadership stability.
A health expert, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Dawn that eight officers had held the position over the past 19 months, with some changes involving repeat appointments.
According to the expert, Nadeem Mahboob served until March 2025, followed by Nasiruddin Mashood until May 2025 and Waqarul Hasan until June 2025. Hamed Yaqoob remained in the position until February 2026, while Aslam Ghauri served until August 2026.
Retired Captain Mahmood subsequently held the post until September 2026, after which Fakhre Alam took charge. Mahboob was later assigned additional charge of the ministry for just one day before being replaced by Agha.
The frequent reshuffling has occurred during a period when the ministry requires consistent administrative oversight to manage national health priorities and coordinate with relevant institutions. However, no official explanation linking the appointments to specific administrative concerns was provided in the information available.
When contacted earlier by Dawn, Kamal said he had no role in the changes, maintaining that the Establishment Division was empowered to make such decisions.
Agha’s appointment follows his removal as petroleum secretary in January 2026. At that time, he was directed to report to the Establishment Division without being assigned another posting.
He was subsequently replaced by Mirza Nasiruddin Ahmad, who received additional charge of the petroleum secretary’s position on a look-after basis while the authorities awaited the appointment of a regular officer.
The latest transfer places Agha at the helm of the health ministry’s administration, marking another change in its senior leadership. The Establishment Division’s notification did not specify how long he would remain in the position, stating only that the appointment would continue until further orders.
