PRSP workers not to get the axe

LAHORE:

The government will reconsider laying off employees of the Punjab Rural Support Programme on humanitarian grounds, Adviser to the Chief Minister on Health Khawaja Salman Rafique said on Thursday. “Worrying about employees we have to lay off is not a policy. Providing quality healthcare through efficient use of funds is.” Rafique was talking to a delegation of employees of the PRSP who had called on him at the office of the Primary and Secondary Health Department.

Parliamentary Secretary Imran Nazir, Admin Secretary Adnan Zafar, Health Services Director General Mukhtar Hussain and Regulations Department Additional Secretary Tahir were present at the meeting. Nazir told the delegation that the government had no intention of firing PRSP workers. “However, you are not government employees,” he said. He said the case of PRSP employees would be considered on humanitarian grounds.

Rafique directed officials to prepare a presentation on performance of health centres in 14 districts which the PRSP oversaw. “We need to rationalise funds so that a case for reconsidering the PRSP’s position can be presented to higher authorities.”

Published in The Express Tribune, April 29^th, 2016.