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Ministries told to complete downsizing by 25th

T A Malik

Islamabad: The government has directed all ministries and division to complete the downsizing exercise within the ministries by March 25, 2000.

Sources said that the Chief Executive's Secretariat is not satisfied with the reports of the ministries regarding downsizing. Ministries have either made recommendations to reduce the strength, without taking any action, or have maintained that no downsizing is required, they added.

The ministries have been asked to accomplish the downsizing by March 25 and implementation reports sent to the establishment division. The establishment division would submit the compliance reports to the Chief Executive's Secretariat.

Sources said that the Cabinet in its meeting on December 11, 1999 had decided to reduce the strength of the employees and all ministries had been asked to implement the decision at their own level, but the ministries did not implement it. The establishment division had directed the ministries twice in January and on February 23, 2000 for implementation. Due to no compliance from ministries the establishment division again directed them on February 28 for carrying out downsizing and gave the deadline of March 25.

Sources said that action would be taken against those who do not implement the Cabinet decision purely on merit basis.

There are a number of complaints against some secretaries of the ministries that they have included the most essential staff and officers in downsizing lists to victimise them.