Caretaker govt abolishes Grades 1-4 posts

Sources say 29,692 positions had been lying vacant for one year

RAWALPINDI:

The caretaker Punjab government has abolished all seats of grade 1 to 4 positions in the government and autonomous institutions of the province which had been lying vacant for the past year. The notification to abolish these seats has also been issued.

A total of 29,692 seats in grades 1 to 4 were abolished. There will be no new recruitments on these vacant seats while a total of 6,600 seats have also been eliminated from autonomous institutions.

These seats include watchmen, security guards, helpers, drivers, deputy messengers, sentry workers etc. All routine cleaning systems in government institutions will be carried out by the daily wage sanitary workers. All such workers will be hired from open market contractors on daily wages.

Meanwhile, all Pakistan Clerks Association and teachers' organisations have expressed their concerns over the decision.

Central Secretary General of Punjab SCS Teachers Association Muhammad Shafiq Bhalwalia said that the government is also going to eliminate the seats of teachers in the second phase.

The government is reducing the seats of civil servants to reduce the expenditure while APCA Central Vice President Shahzad Manzoor Kayani said the move will be challenged in court.

Office problems have increased due to the shortage of grade 4 employees. The government should immediately withdraw this decision and make new recruitments.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 31^st, 2023.