Senate Committee takes major decisions on institutional reforms

342 departments would remain with federation of which a few would be privatised and others merged

ISLAMABAD: Adviser to the Prime Minister on Institutional Reforms and Austerity Dr Ishrat Hussain has said that the task force for the departmental reforms has decided to reorganise 441 government departments and dissolve eight others.

The adviser said that 342 departments w0uld remain with the federation of which a few would be privatised and others merged.
Briefing the Senate Cabinet Committee, Dr Hussain said that so far different federal departments had been merged in the poverty elimination and social security division.

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The Capital Administration and Development (CAD) Division had been dissolved and its department integrated in different ministries.
The adviser told the committee that Ministry of Commerce and Industry had been united; Ministry of Health was being restructured and the regulatory and management function of civil aviation was being separated.

While implementing the decisions of the austerity programme, the ministries and departments were shifted to Kohsar secretariat building from the rented buildings which saved millions of rupees that was being paid in rent.

The adviser said that despite monetisation policy, people were using vehicles. He said that till now 120 cars had been taken back.

He further told the committee that a roadmap was being prepared for introducing e-governance system which would help in getting rid of the file work and a national information technology board for the purpose had been formed.

The adviser observed that the matter regarding rules of business and appointment of dual nationals had been sent to the cabinet for approval.

He said that the task force was working for further improvement in CDA and AGPR office and restructuring of Evacuee Property Trust, which will be presented to the cabinet once the work was complete.

He said that giving the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) in the direct supervision of the premier after restructuring it and making Human Resource Management Division by upgrading the Establishment Division was also under consideration.

Talking about the recruitment and induction, Dr Ishrat Hussain said that over 100 departments had been running without their heads and now according to the rules, standards have been set to appoint the heads of these departments.

Till now, head of 37 departments had been appointed.

He said for the first the system appointment of government officers on the pattern of CSS was being introduced. He stated that doctors, teachers, agricultural scientists and engineers come after great efforts but there was no promotion or training for them.

Dr Hussain said that now everyone would be given equal opportunities for induction, promotion and training.

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He said that the all the posts from grade 19 to 21 in the federal secretariat would be filled through competition under the internal job vacancy system and these posts will be opened for all officers.

The post of technical advisor post had been created in 17 ministries.
He said that the prime minister would be able to directly monitor the progress and targets of all ministries and divisions.

The adviser mentioned that the quota system had not been touched, while increasing the age of superannuation from 60 to 63 was also in consideration.