I Lied On My CV: How Capt. (retd) Muhammad Mehmood Became Health Secretary Of Pakistan Despite Odds

Have you ever lied on your CV and got the job? Of course you have. We all have. Even my nani’s servants, a whole procession of them, swore they were cooks, even chefs, and not one of them could make a decent daal maash.

I was thinking about this at a low point. I have a bachelor’s in Fine Arts, which in this economy means I’m a starving artist hopping from job to job with a future as bleak as a 2 pm power cut. I keep four different AI-generated CVs, each with a slightly better version of me, and the act never lasts past the first month. Life was beating me down. How many times can one person read Rich Dad Poor Dad?

Then I read about Captain (retd) Muhammad Mahmood, who was handed additional charge of Pakistan’s federal health secretary post, and my heart swelled with hope.

What Does the CV of a Pakistani Bureaucrat Look Like?

Here’s Captain Sahab’s illustrious curriculum vitae, full of his many misadventures.

Note: allegations below are described as allegations. Where he was cleared or denied them, that is stated.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

A resilient Grade-21 bureaucrat with over 25 years of navigate-by-crisis experience across military and civil service sectors. Specialized in holding high-stakes portfolios, managing ambitious infrastructure plans, and maintaining institutional longevity despite frequent administrative reshuffles and high-profile accountability inquiries.

CHRONOLOGICAL WORK EXPERIENCE

Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination Federal Health Secretary (Temporary Additional Charge) | August 2026 – September 2026

Took over the health ministry on short notice after the previous secretary was suspended because 14 newborns tragically died in a fire at the PIMS hospital nursery.
Faced heavy public backlash on day one because the government appointed an official who had previously faced corruption investigations in past jobs.
Left the position in less than three weeks. Reports on the change did not say why.

Ministry of Housing & Works Federal Secretary | June 2026 – Present

In charge of all government-owned buildings, official houses, and housing schemes for federal employees (regular appointment in June 2026).
Managed everyday office tasks while also running a hospital, the Jinnah Medical Complex, on deputation.

Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited Chairman | April 2024

Named chairman of PTCL’s board, effective 1 April 2024.

IT and Telecommunication Division Additional Secretary (In-Charge) | March 2024 – July 2024

Removed in July 2024 and posted as OSD at the Establishment Division.
Reports alleged his policy guidelines favoured long-distance international operators that owed about Rs76 billion. He denied any wrongdoing.

Establishment Division (Federal Government Headquarters) Officer on Special Duty (OSD) | February 2024 and again from July 2024

Held a posting with no assigned duties while the government decided what to do with me (notified February 2024, and again in July 2024).
Successfully avoided all official mistakes, budget losses, and new scandals by holding no responsibilities.

Ministry of National Food Security and Research Additional Secretary | 2023

Suspended over the 2023 wheat import scandal. He said there was no ban on wheat imports and that the decision was taken by another body.

Ministry of Energy (Petroleum Division) Additional Secretary (In-Charge) | From October 2022

Managed the federal government’s oil and gas sectors, fuel imports, and local refinery policies.
Sat on the board of OGDCL while the Ring Road case was still pending.

District Administration, Rawalpindi Commissioner & Project Director | December 2019 – 2021

Ran the local city government and led the planning for the multi-billion rupee Rawalpindi Ring Road Project.
An inquiry committee alleged that the road’s map was illegally changed to benefit influential persons, and the Anti-Corruption Establishment said new routes and interchanges were added to benefit housing societies.
Anti-corruption officials said the alignment change raised the project’s total cost to Rs60 billion.
Arrested by the Punjab Anti-Corruption Establishment in July 2021, sent to jail, then suspended from duty.
Exonerated by the Establishment Division in 2022.

Project Coordination Unit, Nandipur Power Project Managing Director | Until November 2015

Supervised the construction, engineering setup, and daily operational coordination of the major multi-million dollar Nandipur power station.
Removed from the post in November 2015 over alleged irregularities in the project.

Punjab Agriculture Department Provincial Secretary | Past Tenure

Managed the province’s farming policies and food storage.

SKILLS

Disaster management. Highly social.

What Should a Starving Artist Learn From This?

Here is the thing about my four AI-generated CVs. They list jobs I never held, and they fall apart in a month. His lists jobs he actually held, scandals and all, and somehow lasts a career. I can’t tell you whether that is competence, luck or connections. The reporting doesn’t say, and several of those allegations are exactly that: allegations. In the Ring Road case he was cleared.

But it inspired so much hope in my heart. Truly, nothing can come between a man and his dreams. My Fine Arts degree can’t stop me. I’ll be a lead aesthetics plastic surgeon in no time!