Islamabad: Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb has said the process of rightsizing of the federal government will be completed by the end of this fiscal year with the aim to reduce expenditures and enhance efficiency.
Addressing a news conference in Islamabad today, he provided a comprehensive overview of the work accomplished so far in this regard.
Sharing the decisions taken over the past six months about the rightsizing, the Finance Minister said 150000 vacant posts have been abolished after approval by the Federal Cabinet.
He said the general non-core services including gardening, cleaning and plumbing will be outsourced by the departments to bring more efficiency, while the contingency posts will also be reduced to some extent.
Muhammad Aurangzeb made it clear that the Finance Ministry would have live visibility on the cash balances of all government entities.“It cannot happen that at one side we are borrowing and on other government departments have idle cash balances.”
However, he added, it has nothing to do with people, but to improve efficiency, adding it was being implemented in all ministries.
The Finance Minister mentioned that in the phase one, decisions were taken with regard to six Ministries including Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit Baltistan, SAFRON, IT and Telecom, Industries and Production, National Health Services and Capital Administration and Development Division (CADD).
He said Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit Baltistan have been merged while CADD has been abolished. The attached entities of these ministries have been reduced from 80 to 40.
Muhammad Aurangzeb said in the second phase, the Ministries of Science and Technology, Commerce, Housing and Works, National Food Security were considered.
He mentioned out of 60 entities of these ministries, 25 will be wound up, 20 will be reduced and nine will be merged.
The Finance Minister also categorically stated that implementation of these decisions will be ensured.
He said in the third phase, the recommendations relating to five Ministries including Federal Education and Professional Training, Information and Broadcasting, National Heritage and Culture, Finance Division and Power Division will be sent to the Federal Cabinet for approval.
Muhammad Aurangzeb expressed the commitment to take the country towards sustainable economic growth on the foundation of macroeconomic stability. He said the government’s targets are heading in the right direction.
The minister was accompanied by Convener of the National Parliamentary Taskforce on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Bilal Azhar Kayani and Ambassador at Large Dr Salman Ahmad, who is heading the Implementation Committee.
