Govt’s institutional reforms are aimed at reducing burden on national exchequer: PM Shehbaz

ISLAMABAD, Aug 16 (SABAH): Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has said government’s institutional reforms are aimed at reducing burden on the national exchequer and improve the services being provided to the public.

Chairing a meeting on rightsizing of government size to curtail expenditure in Islamabad today, he said reduction in government expenses is his priority.

The Prime Minister further said state institutions which 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.

He announced to personally supervise the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority, meant to encourage small and medium businesses. He directed that SMEDA should be brought under the Prime Minister Office.

A number of proposals were also presented in the meeting by the Federal Government’s Committee on Rightsizing headed by the Finance Minister.

It recommended abolishing around 150,000 vacant posts. It suggested outsourcing of non-core services like cleaning and janitorial services, resulting in gradual elimination of several posts in grades 1 to 16. The committee also recommended a complete ban on recruitment on contingency posts and supervision of the finance ministry over the cash balances of the ministries.

Besides, recommendations were also presented regarding the reforms in five ministries. The meeting was given a detailed briefing about reforms in the ministries of Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan, States and Frontier Regions, Information Technology and Telecommunication, Industries and Production as well as the National Health Services. 

It was proposed to merge the Ministry of Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan and States and Frontier Regions. It has been recommended that 28 organizations under these five ministries should either be completely shut down, privatized or transferred to the federating units. There was also a proposal to merge 12 institutions in these five ministries.

The Prime Minister, on the occasion, instructed to get approval of these reforms from the Federal Cabinet. He advised that a comprehensive plan for the implementation of these reforms should be presented.