Gilgit-Baltistan approves filling 2,400 new vacancies

CM Gilgit-Baltistan says appointments to be made on merit, asks ministers to reduce expenses.

GILGIT: Gilgit-Baltistan Chief Minister Mehdi Shah on Friday approved filling of 2,400 newly created posts, saying that the appointments will be made strictly on merit. “The decision to this effect was taken in the cabinet meeting chaired by the chief minister,” Information Minister Ali Madad Sher told The Express Tribune after the meeting.

The information minister said that apart from other sectors, the education sector will have 600 posts. Aside from this, there will be 350 posts in the health sector, 36 posts in the livestock sector, 350 posts in water and power department, 246 posts in agriculture and 333 posts in the newly-formed district of Hunza-Nagar.

This was the fourth cabinet meeting since its formation earlier this year. The cabinet members presented individual progress reports, Sher said, adding that the chief minister expressed satisfaction over their performance and stressed the need to further improve it. The chief minister also asked the ministers to submit a report on incomplete projects of their respective departments and issued directives to hold quarterly meetings of the cabinet to review the pace and progress of the ongoing schemes.

Taking exception to the use of government vehicles, the chief minister asked authorities concerned to curtail expenditure and reduce burden on the national exchequer. “The officials will have one vehicle with them and neither their children nor the officials themselves will be allowed to drive the vehicles,” said the provincial information minister, adding that the policy is in line with the one issued by the prime minister.

He also said that Chief Minister Shah asked the chief secretary to ensure that all the officials seek prior permission before leaving G-B for official visits.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 30^th, 2010.