CM okays committee’s recommendations for rationalising govt departments

LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif has approved all the recommendations given by the cabinet committee’s for the rationalisation of government departments, including winding up of different companies, project management units, curtailing of Tehsil Municipal Administration’s (TMA) staff and rationalisation of the post of Deputy District Officer (DDO) (Building and Roads) and district setup of Communication & Works Department. Restructuring of development authorities and rationalisation of the posts of advisors/consultants in the office of the ombudsman has also been approved. As per the recommendations of the cabinet committee, 54 vacant posts of ATO (I&S), 21 of ATO (Finance) and 32 of council officer/chief officer have been abolished in order to reduce non-developmental expenditures. Also, 40 posts of DDO (Roads) and 40 of DDO (Buildings) in Communication & Works Department have been abolished. Regarding restructuring of development authorities, 1,132 posts in various development agencies falling within different pay scales have been frozen up till June 2012. Moreover, four posts of advisors/consultants in the head office/regional offices and two secretariat posts of deputy secretary and section officer have been forfeited by the ombudsman. The cabinet committee had originally recommended winding up of five companies under the Agriculture Department, claiming them to be non-functional. The committee had also recommended termination of myriad project management units – Dailytimes