Summary Increase in Punjab cabinet ministers causes state of confusion, even secretaries unaware of matters
LAHORE (Daily Dunya) – The increase in provincial ministers of Punjab has aggravated the existing problems. As a reaction to please the Government Members of Provincial Assembly (MPAs), a state of utter perplex has taken place.
Certain ministries have been sub-divided into parts for which separates ministers have been appointed. In simple terms, a single ministry is now being led by two or four ministers, consequently, adding to the problems of people.
Bureaucracy is equally confused on which minister should they report to while the people continue to visit their concerned offices and return in vain. Each minister has been assigning its own tasks to employees which makes no sense to them.
Moreover, some provincial ministers themselves doubt which task their ministry performs. The ministry officers are also kept in scepticism on the matter. As a result, public projects have been endangered for massive delays in future.
According to details, Health Ministry was divided into two parts. The first part including primary health, secondary health and healthcare were handed over to Khawaja Imran Nazir while the second part comprising of Specialized Health and Medical Education were given to Khawaja Salman Rafique.
As far as the Education Ministry is concerned, it was sliced into four sub-divisions comprising of following heads; Minister for Schools Rana Mashood, Minister for Higher Education Syed Ali Raza Gillani, Minister for Special Education Chaudhry Muhammad Shafiq and Minister for Literacy and Non Formal Basic Education Doctor Farukh Javed.
Atta Muhammad Manika was made Provincial Minister of Revenue but after holding office, he realized that separate ministries had been made for colonies, disaster management and communities.
Provincial ministries have been told to take briefing from relevant secretaries and start working. Secretaries themselves admitted that even they don’t understand which department comes under which minister.
Mehar Ejaz Ahmed is the Provincial Minister of Disaster Management. He responded that he manages the officers when asked which ministry he has. Zakia Shahnawaz was made the Provincial Minister of Population and Welfare, however, he is far settling its matters.
Meanwhile, the Provincial Minister Auqaf Zaeem Qadri advised all new ministers to take responsibility and work accordingly.
This news story originally appeared in Daily Dunya
