Federal cabinet abolishes NCGR

Forms a taskforce to bring reforms in civil service, govt structures

ISLAMABAD: Under its austerity drive, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) led government has decided to dissolve the National Commission on Government Reforms (NCGR) and constituted a taskforce to bring reforms in the civil service and the federal government structure.

The taskforce will work to bring some reforms in government structure under austerity drive, said different sources, adding that the decision has been taken by the cabinet in a recent meeting.

The taskforce will be headed by adviser on institutional reforms and austerity. In order to fulfill this purpose, the government has decided to set up an Institutional Reforms Cell in the Prime Minister Office that will serve as the secretariat of the taskforce.

The Prime Minister Imran Khan will approve membership of the taskforce, which will complete its recommendations within 90 days.

The taskforce will present its recommendations on key issues to the cabinet for approval from time to time without waiting for completion of work on all the term of references (ToRs).The matter involving the provinces would be presented to the Council of Common Interests (CCI) for their approval.



Following abolishment of the NCGR, the government has also decided to terminate services of the consultants, experts, advisers and study groups hired by the commission on contract basis in line with the terms of their contracts.

The government has also decided to send back those officials to their parent organisations who were hired on deputation to the commission. The government has tasked the Establishment Division to take necessary steps and issue necessary notifications in this regard.

The entire record of the commission including its accounts and ancillary papers as well as the office space and other assets shall be transferred to the Institutional Reforms Cell in the PM office. Budgetary allocation for the cell shall be provided by the Finance Division as it was provided in case of the NCGR.



The NCGR was set up to review size and structure of government, the processes and procedures in use, governing rules and regulations, the current level of institutional capacity and the state of the public services with the aim to provide a modern, efficient and accountable system of governance on a sustainable basis.

During the past governments, the commission remained effective. However, the PTI government has now decided to dissolve the commission under austerity drive.