‘No need to hire outsiders to top government posts’

Balochistan chief secretary praises the performance of incumbent officers

QUETTA: Balochistan chief secretary Capt (retd) Fazeel Asghar has said there was no need to appoint ‘outsiders’ to top bureaucratic posts and government officers were up to the task.

Speaking at a meeting to review civil service reforms, the chief secretary welcomed the federal government’s interest in improving Balochistan’s civil services structure.

He added that a task force would also be formed for suggesting changes to the civil services structure in the province.

The chief secretary stressed the need for organising training workshops for government officers.

He also said transfer and postings should be carried out on a rotation basis. “Officers from other provinces should come and serve in Balochistan,” he added.

Speaking on the occasion, Adviser to the PM on Civil Services Reforms Dr Ishrat Hussain, who was chairing the meeting, said the prime minister waned to introduce reforms in civil services to ensure provision of quality education, healthcare and clean drinking water to the people.

“He [the prime minister] will sign an accord with all ministers in which they will identify the objectives of their departments and set targets for government officers,” he added.

“The prime minister wishes to overcome flaws and weaknesses in country’s governing system.

The adviser further said the federal cabinet had approved numerous performance and management summaries.

Dr Hussain informed the participants of the meeting that the government was working on a mechanism to introduce an e-governance system across the country.

“A national Information board has been set up for the e-governance system,” he added.

The adviser also said measures would be taken soon for the local bodies system in Balochistan.

In October, the PTI government approved recommendations regarding revamping recruitment, training and promotion criteria of civil servants in order to transform the paper-pushing bureaucrats into responsive public servants.

The Task Force on Institutional Reforms, headed by Dr Ishrat Hussain, formulated proposals to review the present training system to make it more responsive to the requirements of policy formulation.

According to the Establishment Division, the prevalent challenges at the national and international levels require rethinking of strategies to make the institutions in the public sector more responsive and effective.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 16^th, 2019.