Overstaffing weighs down provincial govt

CM orders employees sacking rules updated

QUETTA:

The case of overstaffing and unnecessary recruitment in government departments in Balochistan has once against surfaced as during a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti, it was disclosed that in one district, an assistant director of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has 22 peons under his supervision.

This revelation underscored the problem of unnecessary past recruitments, leading to inefficiencies and resource misuse.

The chief minister expressed his frustration over many employees not fulfilling their duties properly and not even reporting to duty while regularly drawing salaries.

Chief Minister Bugti also highlighted that visits to Rural Health Centers (RHCs) showed widespread absenteeism, with doctors and watchmen absent, offices closed, and locks rusted.

He stressed the urgent need to update current rules that prevent the dismissal of habitually absent employees, from class IV workers to high ranking officers.

The meeting, which evaluated the implementation of the development budget and the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA)’s preparations for the monsoon season, included key officials such as Provincial Minister for Planning and Development Mir Zahoor Buledi, Provincial Finance Minister Mir Shoaib Noshirwani, Chief Secretary Balochistan, Shakeel Qadir Khan, Finance Secretary Babar Khan, and DG PDMA Jahanzeb Khan.

The Finance Secretary and DG PDMA provided briefings, with the Finance Department reporting that development projects have been initiated without delay and the DG PDMA confirming that preparations to deal with monsoon rains and potential flooding have been completed.

Chief Minister emphasized that the provincial government’s performance will be assessed from the start of the new financial year. For the first time, the tendering process for development projects commenced on July 1.

He expressed his resolve to visiting development project sites twice a week and instructed ministers and secretaries to conduct regular field visits to ensure timely implementation.

The chief minister warned that releasing funds contrary to physical progress would be considered a serious crime and action would be taken against those responsible.

Moreover, the CM directed the Services and General Administration Department to create comprehensive rules and regulations for government employees to address issues of absenteeism and inefficiency.

He stressed that the province cannot be managed like a fish market and that urgent action and dismissal of non-performing employees are necessary.

The Balochistan government is also initiating a process of accountability and self-accountability to monitor performance, with plans to empower and hold the Planning & Development and Finance Departments accountable.

Chief Minister Bugti has called for a separate meeting to discuss amendments to the service rules and proposals for action against employees holding dual employment.