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Federal officers ruining dream of good governance in Punjab
LAHORE: As many as 200 non-cadre federal officers holding key administrative posts in Punjab on deputation against the rules are openly violating Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s order and ruining the good governance dream in the province, Pakistan Today has learnt.
Taking notice of news items published in Pakistan Today on November 14, the chief minister through a notification, a copy of which is available with this scribe, ordered all administrative secretaries to strictly adhere to his order and do not take any case and request in deputation period involving relaxation of Rule 15(1) of the Punjab Civil Servants (Appointment and conditions of Service) Rule, 1974.
“All the administrative departments shall make pro-active efforts to build their capacities from amongst the officers available to them in the government of Punjab, who are either employees of the provincial government or placed in the government of Punjab against encadared posts. The inevitability factors is no justification for prolonged stays on deputations,” the chief minister wrote.
It is pertinent to mention here that officers of the Provincial Management Service (PMS) are easily available in Punjab but federal officers due to their monopoly and connections are posted in the province on prized posts on deputation, a move that shocks and demoralises PMS officers and deprives them of their promotion.
Ayesha Ranjha, an 18-grade officer of the Inland Revenue Services Group is working as grade 19 Additional Secretary of the Local Government and Community Development against service rules and in violation of the judgement of the Supreme Court. Similarly, Hassan Akhtar Khan, who belongs to the Postal Group, has been appointed as the special secretary operations in the School Education Department.
Fatima Sheikh, a junior officer of the Information Group in grade 18, is working as the additional secretary of the Primary and Secondary Healthcare Department. PMS Officers Association Vice-President and Tandlianwala Assistant Commissioner Abdul Razak Dogar said posting of non-cadre federal officers on administrative posts was a violation of the court orders and the chief minister.
“The order of honourable Supreme Court is there that no officers other than officers of All Pakistan United Group (APUG) or PMS can be appointed on the administrative groups. But the situation in Punjab is opposite,” he said. “Non-cadre federal officers due to their links in federal bureaucracy make their way in Punjab and hold lucrative posts while PMS officers are sidelined.”
According to Dogar, the PMS officers are available in abundance in Punjab but they are not posted on their administrative posts. “PMS officers are deprived of their due promotions and postings due to appointment of non-cadre federal officers,” he said, adding that the PMS officers are already upset by appointment of the DMG officers on top posts.
He said that they have moved the Lahore High Court and challenged the appointment of three non-cadre officers Ayesha Ranjha, Hassan Akhtar Khan and Fatima Sheikh. He said that they also plan to challenge the appointment of 150 more officers serving on deputation in Punjab.
He said that the dream of good governance in Punjab cannot come true until and unless officers of the provincial cadre are posted on their due seats. “The bureaucracy will not be able to deliver when irrelevant officers will be holding key administrative posts in Punjab.” He welcomed the CM’s notification in this regard and said it prove a milestone in the way of good governance in Punjab.