Cabinet Division Additional Secretary Shahida Aktar has been made an Officer on Special Duty (OSD) at the public administration ministry.

The public administration ministry issued a circular announcing her removal from the Cabinet Division in ‘public interest’ on June 1.

OSD is a position that rarely allows one any scope for work.

The transfer followed Shahida’s disclosure to journalists on May 27 that the government had approved a proposal to procure 15 million doses of Sinopharm vaccine at $10 each. The government had signed a non-disclosure agreement with China in this regard.

The incident prompted the Chinese side to opt for almost a fresh negotiation making a quick supply of the vaccine uncertain.