Islamabad: senate Standing Committee on Cabinet Secretariat in its meeting was surprised to know that out of 103 seats of scales 18-21, only 42 are filled while 61 posts are vacant in Balochistan. It was stated that out of 5 seats of grade 21, 23 of grade 20, 35 of grade 19 and 40 of grade 18, only 1, 5, 19 and 17 are filled respectively.
The meeting was held under the chairmanship of Senator Talha Mahmood here at the Parliament House on Wednesday. Secretary Establishment Division while giving a detailed briefing in response to starred questions asked by Senator Mir Kabeer in Senate proceedings said that a number of factors collectively have resulted in this shortage which is prevalent in other provinces too but not in as high percentages as this. He said that low pass percentage in competitive examinations as well as reluctance to work in Balochistan are the main factors.
The committee was told that rotation policies of postings are revised at regular intervals and at this time PAS and PSP officers from Balochistan have to serve in Balochistan for at least seven years to get promoted to grade 20. It was also stated that salaries of officers serving in Balochistan are kept higher than other provinces. The establishment division will prepare and send a comprehensive brief on all aspects of the matter and the matter was deferred.
The committee also discussed employees who are presently working on deputation basis in Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences and those employees whose services are made unparalleled and unequal n deputation basis. The committee members pointed out that around 275 employees who were removed from PIMS was not given a chance to appeal against their removal and many of them had not completed the period of deputation.
The committee has called Secretary CADD and VC PIMS in next meeting.
The meeting was attended among others by Senator Hidayatullah, Senator Najma Hameed, Senator Shahi Syed, Senator Yousaf Badini, Senator Kalsoom Parveen, Senator Saif-ullah Bangash and officers from Establishment division and PIMS.
