CS instructs officials to solve citizens’ problems

Meeting reviews steps taken to speed up digitisation of departments

LAHORE: Government officers should ensure their presence on duty and work diligently to solve the people's problems, Punjab Chief Secretary Azam Suleman Khan has said. He issued this directive while presiding over a meeting of all administrative secretaries at the Civil Secretariat on Tuesday.

The chief secretary reviewed the steps taken to speed up digitisation of departments, the Annual Development Programme and timely disposal of pension cases. The meeting was attended by the Planning and Development Board chairman, additional chief secretary (home), Punjab Information Technology Board chairman and secretaries of all departments.

The chief secretary, through video conferencing, conducted a virtual visit of offices of the Faisalabad anti-corruption director, Bahawalnagar district health officer, Sahiwal land record assistant director and Rahim Yar Khan sub-registrar. He checked the presence of officers in and interacted with people.

Punjab CS directs field officers to resolve citizens’ problems

The chief secretary asked visitors about a solution to their problems and behaviour of the officers with them. The CS directed the administrative secretaries to expedite work on digitisation of departments and paperless working, saying progress in this regard would be reviewed on a regular basis.

The meeting reviewed the projects under the Annual Development Programme. The meeting was told that out of the total Rs350 billion allocated for development schemes in the financial year 2019-20, the planning and development department had released Rs205 billion, while the finance department had issued Rs194 billion.

Reportedly, the departments have utilised Rs115 billion from the released funds so far. The CS was informed that 702 out of the total 943 new development schemes had been approved. It also decided to strengthen the pension wing of the services and general administration department to ensure early disposal of pension cases.  

Published in The Express Tribune, February 12^th, 2020.