Financial strain triggers govt layoffs
A finance ministry official indicated that the government had turned a blind eye to the financial affairs of these institutions, as their boards were used to accommodate favoured politicians and bureaucrats. photo: file
Amid a purported financial crisis, the Rawalpindi division administration is set to lay off its employees from scale 1 to 16 across all 42 government departments, sending shockwaves.
According to sources, the payment of salaries to government employees has become increasingly difficult.
Rawalpindi Commissioner Amir Khattak has directed the deputy commissioners of all six districtsRawalpindi, Attock, Kahuta, Chakwal, Talagang, and Murreeto prepare and present lists of employees. The directive includes the termination of contracts for daily wage and contractual employees. This week, layoffs are expected in various departments, including education, municipal corporations, WASA, RDA, PHA, forestry, livestock, social welfare, wildlife, agriculture, and finance.
Employee organisations have strongly protested against this order, arguing that no new recruitment has taken place in government institutions over the past seven years, leading to a significant number of vacancies. According to these organisations, at least 100 positions are vacant in every government institution.
A meeting was held at the commissioner's office, chaired by Commissioner Khattak, to discuss the rationalisation of layoffs. The meeting was attended by the deputy commissioners of all districts, the additional commissioner coordination, and the DG of PHA. The commissioner emphasised that lists of redundant employees should be prepared within two days.
He reiterated that government jobs are intended for public service, not merely for collecting salaries.
The commissioner instructed that excess staff should be identified and reassigned to areas where human resources are needed. Additionally, in response to complaints from the deputy commissioners of Chakwal and Murree regarding inefficiencies in the Department of Communication and Works, Commissioner Khattak ordered the immediate removal of non-performing officials.
In response to these potential layoffs, employee unions have vowed to resist any dismissals. Shahzad Manzoor Kiyani, Central Vice President of the All Pakistan Clerks Association, and Chaudhary Mubashir, Provincial Vice President, warned of strong protests if any clerks or Class IV employees are dismissed. Similarly, Abdul Rauf Kiyani and Muhammad Shafiq Bhalwalia, representing the Primary Elementary Secondary Teachers Association, along with Basharat Iqbal Raja of the Educators Association, declared that they would not accept any dismissals within the Education Department.