The commissionerate system has not become a law and the government will not make any amendments to it, said Chief Minister Sindh Syed Qaim Ali Shah has said that.
He told the media gathered outside the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Pakistan’s Golden Jubilee Conference that “we will resolve the concerns of our friends administratively, otherwise there is no need to touch the commissionerate system”.
In what appears to be a unanimous assumption, most government ministers were of the view that the government was open to amendments in the newly revived commissionerate system. The amendments were meant to pacify the disgruntled former coalition partner, Muttahida Qaumi Movement. Hence, the chief minister’s revelation came as a first to many.
The government does not plan to carry out an operation in the city, the CM said in response to a question about violence in Karachi. Target killings, however, are a political issue and the government has begun interacting with different political parties to bring the Karachi situation back to normal.
The commisionerate budget
The commissioners and deputy commissioners have been made responsible for resolving financial issues when it comes to salary and recurring expenditure in their areas.
This was decided at a meeting held at the CM House under the supervision of Chief Minister Shah to review the budgetary changes that would have to be made to fit the new system.
Shah told the Sindh Chief Secretary to hold a meeting today (Wednesday) to discuss all issues including the allocation of the budget for development schemes and monitoring the evaluation system. He asked him to submit a report if necessary.
The meeting was informed that the allocation of three-month salaries with the POL and other essential heads have already been released to all departments so that no government employee will face any problem.
After the 18 amendment was promulgated, devolved departments were made integral parts of the respective provincial departments. The CM said that all changes should be made within three months.
The meeting was attended by Finance Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, Chief Secretary Sindh Raja Muhammad Abbas, Additional Chief Secretary (P&D) Muhammad Ishaque Lashari, Accountant General Sindh Azam Khan, Secretary Finance Sindh Naveed Kamran Baloch, Secretary Local Government Ali Ahmed Lund, Secretary to Chief Minister Sindh Alamuddin Bullo, Additional Accountant General Sindh, a representative of the Sindh Police IG and others.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 27th, 2011.
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