Federal employees saved from the axe

Govt employees won't lose jobs after their ministries are transferred to provinces under devolution plan, says...

ISLAMABAD: Federal government employees will not lose their jobs after the ministries and divisions they work in are transferred to the provinces under the devolution plan envisaged in the 18th constitutional amendment, said Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani.

Chairing a meeting of a parliamentary commission working out the modalities of the plan here on Monday, the premier said that he would personally convene all chief ministers to Islamabad to initiate the devolution, starting with the transfer of five ministries by the end of this month. A special cabinet meeting would be held subsequently to bring members on board, he added.

Gilani was emphatic that no federal employee would be retrenched during or after the implementation of the 18th amendment, according to a statement issued by his media office.

The prime minister directed the implementation commission to make legislation, safeguarding the interests of the employees of these ministries. Meanwhile, he asked the establishment division to ensure that terms and conditions of their service are not varied to their disadvantage.

The prime minster directed the implementation commission to visit the provincial headquarters before the end of November to observe the preparations of the federating units as they take over and ensure that there are no gaps and the transferred employees get their pay in time.

The prime minister reiterated the federal government’s resolve to implement changes envisaged in the 18th amendment in the given timeframe, in letter and in spirit.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 16^th, 2010.