Pakistan

Government jobs: NA adopts resolution to fix quota for Islamabad

Speaker refers matter to standing committee on cabinet secretariat

Our Correspondent October 05, 2016

MQM’s Rashid Godil termed the quota system a ‘curse’ stating that it had always been misused in Sindh. PHOTO: MUDASSAR RAJA/EXPRESS

ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly Tuesday adopted a resolution urging the government to allocate separate quotas in the federal government services for Islamabad domicile holders.

“I am personally opposed to quota system and hold the view that there should not be any such thing after the devolution of education and certain issues, but for Islamabad it is necessary,” said Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) leader Asad Umar.

Umar, who was elected from NA-48 in Islamabad, had moved the resolution.

Usually, the federal government seeks applications from across the country when it publishes advertisement for new jobs. Residents of Islamabad, though, are considered under Punjab’s quota.

Further, the government has been running the constitutional obligation of quota system for jobs on ad-hoc basis after it expired on August 13, 2013.

Pakistan Peoples Party’s, Azra Fazal Pechhuho argued that if a separate local government system can operate in the city, then there should also be a separate jobs quota for residents of the city.

“It is the right of residents of this city to have equal level playing field for jobs,” she said.

Replying to the resolution, Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Sheikh Aftab stated that a bill about quotas would be tabled in the house soon so adopting a resolution in this regard would be of no use.

“Besides, in Punjab there is a 50 per cent quota for people from Islamabad as the city is too small for such system,” he stated.

PTI’s Shireen Mazari accused the government of maintaining dual policies for such things. Minister for Law and Justice Zahid Hamid stated they will soon finalise the date for tabling the quota bill along with the leader of the opposition.

MQM’s Rashid Godil termed the quota system a ‘curse’ stating that it had always been misused in Sindh.

Seeing the outright support of lawmakers for the resolution, the speaker then referred it to the NA’s standing committee on cabinet secretariat for consideration.

The much-debated quota system has always been contentious both inside and outside parliament.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 5^th, 2016.