Absence from office: Biometric attendance demanded in Torghar government offices

People coming from far-flung areas to get work done have to return home because officials are not in

MANSEHRA: Residents of Torghar have demanded that the provincial government introduce biometric attendance systems in all the government offices in the district due to the poor attendance records of government servants.

According to a statement issued by human rights activist Zahid Khan and social worker Naseeb Roz Khan, government servants posted in different offices are unconcerned with the plight of the citizens they work for and are creating problems in routine administrative work by failing to show up at their offices with any regularity.

Khan pointed out that officers and their subordinates in different departments are paid for working six days a week, but they often leave the district on Wednesday or Thursday morning and enjoy a three-day weekend.

He pointed out that on Thursday morning, during a visit to the district secretariat, he found the offices of the district health officer (DHO), land revenue officers, assistant commissioner, the Nadra office, and the district nazim’s office closed.

People coming from far off areas reach Judba, the district headquarters of Torghar, for any official business have to return empty handed when the concerned officers are out of office. He said that truancy has become the norm.

Naseeb Roz Khan has demanded that the provincial government introduce biometric attendance systems for all officers and staff on the pattern of the education department, otherwise they would continue to waste time and resources of their departments and the residents of Torghar.

Meanwhile, when approached for comment, Torghar Deputy Commissioner Pervez Khan said the seat of the assistant commissioner was vacant and the additional assistant commissioner (AAC) was given acting charge. He said the AAC and the DHO were in Peshawar for a meeting.

He dispelled the impression that government officers and their staff were only putting in three or four days a week. He said that since he recently assumed charge as DC, he was making efforts to ensure the attendance of all staff at government offices in the district.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 28^th, 2017.