LAHORE – The ongoing drive of the Punjab government to repatriate several non-All Pakistan Unified Group (APUG) officers in the Punjab to the federal government is based on the policy of ‘pick and choose’, as 38 such officers are still working in different departments, Pakistan Today has learnt.
The Punjab government has recently repatriated 36 non-APUG officers working in different grades and departments across Punjab, directing them to relinquish their charge with immediate effect. Sources said that the decision came directly from the ‘high-ups’, as even the administrative heads of these departments were not taken on board before repatriating officers working under them.
“There have been at least two instances in which a secretary requested the chief secretary to re-consider repatriation of an officer, but the chief secretary conveyed his displeasure and instead directed the department concerned to catalyze the process,” sources added. As per the deputation rules, the provincial government requisitions an officer from the federal government for a normal stay of three years, which can be extended for two years, stretching the deputation period to five years.
Beyond five years, the extension is ‘in relaxation of rules’ and is approved by the chief minister. Terming the move ‘discriminatory’, stakeholders said that the Punjab government repatriated several officers even before they could complete their ‘normal stay’ of three years on the one hand, while ‘ignoring’ several others who have been serving for more than five years ‘in relaxation of rules.’
They further said that the Punjab government has shown a ‘high-handed’ attitude by making sure that the officers relinquish charge, in compliance with the rules, immediately. “There is no formula or rationale spelled out by the government in this regard. Moreover, even the vacant slots have not been filled, creating a vacuum,” they added.
Senior government officials said that the Punjab government is actually repatriating officers to accommodate the provincial service officers, who have already given a call for a strike on March 21, if their demands are not met. Moreover, they said the step has been taken in the wake of abolition of several provincial departments and posts, as the government wants to accommodate its own officers.
Talking to Pakistan Today, Services Secretary Sikandar Sultan Raja said the government has taken into account various factors to repatriate officers and has adopted a phased process. “There are various departments, such as accounts, where we have a shortage of experts and hence we requisition officers from the federal government. In such cases, the officers have not been repatriated, but in other cases officers have been sent to the federal government,” he said.
To a question, he said that the government has decided to repatriate the remaining non-APUG officers as well and is just waiting for the availability of officers to fill the vacant posts.
