- Center to adopt Punjab’s ‘transparent’ hiring system
- PM orders audit and adjustment of excessive power billing in the past month
- Approves payment of Rs.25000 per flood-hit family before Eid
- Decides to give legal cover to minimum wage of Rs 12,000
The Federal Cabinet Monday decided to lift the ban on recruitment in government departments, provide Rs 25,000 to each family of the flood-hit people before Eidul Azha and adjust inflated electricity bills issued in the past month besides giving legal cover to the minimum wage of Rs 12,000.
The meeting held in Islamabad was chaired by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.
NO MORE FLOUTING OF MERIT:
The federal cabinet approved a summary submitted by Ministry of Water and Power which had sought permission to fill vacant posts in electricity distribution companies (DISCOS), and directed all government departments to begin the process of filling vacancies.
Briefing reporters on the decisions taken in the cabinet meeting, Information Minister Pervaiz Rashid said that recruitment would be transparent and purely on merit, adding that the PM has constituted a cabinet committee to oversee the entire process.
The minister said that no recommendation would be accepted and recruitments would be made irrespective of political affiliations.
He said a transparent process of recruitment of educators and policemen was adopted by the PML-N-led government in Punjab and that the same transparency would be introduced at the Center.
He added that even Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan and Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) Chairman Dr Tahirul Qadri, during their 160 speeches, had not raised a single objection over the recruitment process in Punjab.
PM TAKES NOTICE OF EXCESSIVE BILLING:
During the meeting, Rashid said that Prime Minister Sharif had expressed concern on the over-billing issue and directed that the bills be corrected on emergency basis besides ordering audit of the issue.
Rashid said that the PM had issued directives to Adviser to PM on Water and Energy Dr Musadiq Malik to probe complaints of excessive electricity billing in the past month and that the adviser presented his report in the cabinet meeting.
Rashid said that the cabinet decided that excess charges of consumers of up to 200 units who received more bills as compared to the same month last year would be adjusted in the next bill. He added that over-billing of consumers of over 200 units would also be adjusted after verification that there is a five percent increase in their bills for the month as compared to same month last year.
In the meanwhile, talking to reporters after the cabinet meeting, State Minister for Water and Power Abid Sher Ali said, “Three reputable companies would perform an audit into the issue of over-billing.”
He further said that over-billing could not have taken place without the involvement of department officials, adding that the issue was created during the previous government’s tenure.
He said that though thousands of power theft cases had turned up, punishment was given in only three cases.
‘EIDEE’ FOR FLOOD VICTIMS:
During the meeting, the Punjab government and National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) officials briefed the PM about the flood situation. The PM ordered holding of a survey in Punjab to review the flood damage in the province and assured that the federal government will give complete support to provincial government in this regard.
Senator Rashid said that the federal and provincial governments would share 50 per cent cost of cash grant of Rs 25,000 to each flood-hit family. He added that the federal government would also compensate for the losses of crops and cattle and assist in reconstruction of partially or fully-damaged houses.
He said that a damage assessment survey is already underway as per the PM’s instructions.
MINIMUM WAGE GETS LEGAL COVER:
The information minister added that the cabinet had decided to give legal cover to the minimum wage of Rs 12,000 per month in view of the complaints that the increase is not being implemented in letter and spirit.