Expressing displeasure over the performance of the provincial bureaucracy, Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah gave a month starting from Thursday to make their performance count otherwise action will be taken against the top bureaucrats falling short of the desired standard.
At a meeting was held at the Chief Minister’s House on Thursday, he said that despite the provision of 50 percent of the budgetary allowance, the departments had only spent the 20 percent on development.
Presiding over the meeting with provincial secretaries of various government departments, the chief minister especially warned the secretaries of the Education and Health departments to review their performance.
Last year, the provincial chief executive had announced the fiscal year 2011-12 as the “Year of Development”.
Speaking at the meeting, Shah stressed upon the heads of departments to devote their energies and concentrate upon development works throughout the province to complete the ongoing and newly-initiated schemes in the larger interest of the people. “Emphasis should be made on providing maximum relief to the people by implementing the development works day and night to complete important and development oriented schemes while observing all legal formalities and quality,” he added.
The chief minister said that being the head of administrative departments, all provincial secretaries have to implement the policies of the Sindh Cabinet, “as being the elected representatives of people, we are accountable to the people”.
He said that as per an earlier decision, the overall 50 percent development funds were allocated to all departments, but they had hardly utilised 20 percent of the releases. “Out of Rs 111 billion ADP, an amount of Rs 50 billion was released,” he added.
Terming the administrative performance as negligible, Shah said negligence and carelessness will not be tolerated as the elected representatives are accountable to the Almighty Allah, people and provincial assembly and also to the party. “After the floods of 2010 and heavy rains of 2011, it is our joint responsibility to provide immediate relief to the people, with prompt efforts to alleviate poverty in the light of the manifesto of the party,” he added.
The chief minister said after a long time the present elected government had relaxed the ban on government recruitment and a policy was framed through which jobs of BSP-16 and above were given through the Sindh Public Service Commission and jobs of BSP-I to BSP-15 given through departmental committees on merit and transparent manners.
“After receiving many complaints against departments and officers, I had taken necessary action against those who are violating instructions,” Shah said, warning that any negligent or careless officer will not be spared, if he is found not delivering as per expected polices.
Highlighting different programmes of poverty alleviation in the province, the chief minister said the scheme of Rural Based Poverty Alleviation with an allocation of Rs 2 billion, Shaheed Benazir Income Support Programme and other programmes such as land for landless peasants, incentives of seed and fertiliser for small growers, have achieved tremendous results.
He fixed the time of one month for all departments to see the progress and ordered the provincial secretaries to expedite the development works for which no excuses will be entertained.
Shah also directed the Sindh Education Department secretary to conduct a survey of children enrolled in schools, out of schools and the facilities provided by the government.
He also directed that the quality of education and merit must be ensured in all respects, as there will be no compromise on quality. He said the government has provided maximum incentives to teachers including time scale and promotion and it is hoped that they will impart education to the children of the province.
Directing the provincial secretaries to pursue the cases in courts, the chief minister directed that a Deputy Secretary in each department be posted to look after the cases filed with courts while a copy of all such cases be sent to the Sindh Law Secretary and the Advocate General for guidance and help.
Regarding illegal and unauthorised allotment of forest land to ineligible people, Shah called for prompt action against those involved and illegally allotted lands cancelled and asked for a report within 15 days.
On a report from the Health secretary, he observed that the issue of lady health workers (LHWs) pertains to the federal government and provincial government will do all the needful to help them out.
