KARACHI – As the year 2010 ends, the highlight of the year remains how the PPP-led Sindh government divided a number of provincial departments only to gratify elected and non-elected leaders of ruling as well as coalition partners without creating any new job opportunities.
Although, a number of government departments were bifurcated, not a single vacancy was created to provide jobs to the unemployed youth. Analysts say that bifurcation of administrative departments is only putting extra burden on the provincial exchequer and not producing any positive results. How was it possible for the Sindh government, which constantly claims of a financial crisis, to establish new departments, they questioned.
In 2010, at least 10 departments were re-established after the division of the years-old administrative system: coal and energy development department, investment department, tourism department, minority affairs, supply and prices bureau, rural development, special initiatives, electric power and Zulfikarabad Development Department.
Under the reconciliation policy of President Asif Ali Zardari, the PPP leadership had allied with the MQM and PML-F. After coming into power, the government bifurcated many departments just to take along the MQM, the ANP and the PML-F besides adjusting its own senior elected and non-elected leaders. If the situation is compared with the number of departments in the previous PML-Q led government, one can observe that the bifurcation was aimed at accommodating the leaders of the ruling party and coalition partners.
The total number of Sindh cabinet members, including advisers and special assistants to the chief minister, has reached 75. The advisers and special assistants to chief minister are enjoying all perks and privileges without any portfolios. Previously, Labour, Transport, Industries and Commerce were a single portfolio, which has now been trifurcated into the Labour (ANP), Transport (PPP) and Industries and Commerce (MQM) ministries.
The Mines and Minerals Department was bifurcated and two department ‘mines and minerals’ and ‘coal and energy development’ departments were established. The portfolio of the former went to the PML-F while the latter is with the PPP’s chief minister. Similarly, the Culture and Tourism Department was bifurcated into Tourism, which went to PML-F’s Imtiaz Sheikh, while the portfolio of Culture Department remained with PPP’s Sassui Palijo.
The Irrigation and Power Department was also divided between two PPP leaders Syed Ali Nawaz Shah and Shazia Marri. The single department of Auqaf, Religious, Minorities Affairs, Zakat and Ushr has been divided into three new departments with the Auqaf portfolio awarded to the MQM and the portfolios of Minority Affairs and Zakat and Ushr being with the Pakistan People’s Party.
The Sports and Youth Affairs Department was bifurcated and both portfolios were allotted to the MQM. The Law, Parliamentary Affairs and Human Rights Department was also divided and the MQM given the portfolio of Human Rights.
The Women Development and Social Welfare Department was bifurcated into Women Development (PPP’s Tauqir Fatima Bhutto) and Social Welfare (PPP’s Nargis ND Khan).
The Forest and Wildlife Department was bifurcated and shared by two PPP leaders, while the Livestock and Fisheries Department was also divided with the Livestock portfolio going to the PML-F and Fisheries to the PPP.
Although the departments have been bifurcated and distributed among the PPP, the MQM, the ANP and the PML-F, the number of vacant posts in the departments remain unfilled as the ruling party cannot reach an understanding over the job quota.
