–Ministers with unsatisfactory conduct likely to be sent packing by Prime Minister Imran
ISLAMABAD: All federal secretaries will on Monday brief Prime Minister Imran Khan on the performance of their respective ministries during the first 100 days of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government, Pakistan Today has learnt.
Since the PM had set specific targets for all federal ministers, the briefing would not be given by the ministers themselves, sources said and added that according to the agenda of the meeting, only the prime minister would ask questions whereas the ministers would not even be authorised to raise any queries.
“Every ministry will be given 10 minutes for the briefing while the federal secretaries have been directed to present a concise and to-the-point presentation,” they said.
‘WINNING HORSES TO STAY’:
The members of the federal cabinet with satisfactory performance will stay while those who put up a bad show might be sent packing by the premier, sources said.
“The winning horses are likely to include Minister for Communications Murad Saeed, Minister for Foreign Affairs Shah Mahmood Qureshi and State Minister for Interior Shehryar Khan Afridi.”
Speaking of the expected top performers’ achievements, they said Murad Saeed had taken phenomenal steps during the government’s first 100 days. “Pakistan Post is going towards e-commerce, rebranding, mobile money order and enhanced logistic facilities via a network of 13,000 post offices across the country.”
The electronic money order service for speedy transfer of money up to Rs50,000 is a major achievement, sources said and added: “Moreover, 110 vehicles of NHA have been retrieved from individuals of other organisations whereas the ministry has also saved Rs3.5 billion of the government.”
Sources further said that Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi was likely to be another winner of the 100-day performance contest as the country successfully cemented its friendly ties with traditional and new friends.
“Qureshi facilitated PM Khan’s outreach to world leaders through effective engagements with leaders of China, the US, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Afghanistan.”
“He [FM] also delivered a balanced speech at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), conducted himself well during his meetings with world leaders, raised the Kashmir issue at global forums and presented Pakistan’s view on all issues strongly and wisely,” they said.
Speaking of Afridi’s performance, the sources said the minister introduced 44 new initiatives to reform and restructure the ministry, making it a public-service institution.
“The minister implemented a new policy about the functioning of International NGOs (INGOs) in the country which had not been done during the past 70 years. A major decision was to ban 18 INGOs that had been violating laws for ulterior motives.”
However, according to western diplomats, the expulsion of the INGOs will hurt 11 million aid recipients in the country.
Affected NGOs include World Vision, Pathfinder, Plan International, Trocaire and Saferworld. Another group, ActionAid, said it was closing offices and laying off staff after the government told it to halt operations and leave.
Aid groups and western diplomats blasted a lack of transparency in the process of expulsion and review of appeals.
“It is as appalling as it is inexplicable that the government has decided to deprive 11 million of its own people of much-needed support with no apparent reason,” a Western diplomat said.
