By Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s government has embarked on a major overhaul of its bureaucracy, abolishing 28 departments across five ministries and proposing the merger of two ministries, in a bid to slash costs and enhance governance.
A high-level meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday, endorsed the recommendations of a committee tasked with suggesting sweeping changes.
The restructuring will impact the ministries of Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan, States and Frontier Regions, Information Technology and Telecommunication, Industries and Production, and National Health Services.
“The meeting proposed merging the Ministry of Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan with the States and Frontier Regions Ministry. It was recommended that 28 organizations under these five ministries should either be completely shut down, privatized, or transferred to the federating units,” a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office said. There was also a proposal to consolidate 12 institutions within these five ministries.
Under the plan, the Ministry of Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan will be merged with the States and Frontier Regions Ministry. Additionally, 28 organizations under these ministries will be either dissolved, privatized, or devolved to provincial authorities.
A further 12 institutions within these ministries will be consolidated, and approximately 150,000 vacant positions will be abolished. Non-core functions, such as cleaning and janitorial services, will be outsourced to reduce waste.
Sharif directed that the proposal be submitted to the federal cabinet for approval and a comprehensive plan be prepared and presented for its implementation.
“The state institutions that have not shown adequate performance in terms of public service and are a burden on the national exchequer should either be instantly closed, or steps should be taken for their immediate privatization.”
The government will gradually phase out various posts in grades 1 to 16.
The committee also recommended a complete ban on recruitment for contingency posts and supervision of the finance ministry over cash balances of the ministries.
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