DERA ISMAIL KHAN, March 10: Lack of coordination among the government institutions is adversely affecting the performance of the government offices, besides discouraging the civil servants.

With the introduction of devolution plan, a number of departments were merged and a number of civil servants were placed in surplus pool. Later, these officials were adjusted in various departments against vacant or newly-created posts.

Ghulam Qasim, Abdul Hamid, Mohammad Yousuf from former Deputy Commissioner office and Allah Nawaz from C & W Department who were placed in surplus pool last year, were adjusted in Excise and Taxation Office D.I.Khan in October/November last year.

Sohna Khan from former DC Office was also adjusted as Constable at E&T Office Dera in November last. They were being paid their salaries up to December but while allocating annual budget, from perusal of District Budget Book for the year 2001-2002, pertaining to Excise and Taxation Department, it was observed that the strength shown by the NWFP Finance Department was not in accordance with the proposal of E&T Department; sanctioned budgeted posts of six clerks and 14 constables were decreased as two and 13 respectively. It was also crystal-clear that the department had not proposed any post as surplus.

With the issue of this District Budget Book not containing the posts in accordance with the on-record posts, the salaries of four clerks and one constable were stopped forthwith by the district accounts office Dera and the bills of all the five government servants were refused. These officials had been working in the E&T Office without salaries since December last.

Director general Excise and Taxation NWFP brought the matter before Budget Officer-IV of NWFP Finance Department through a letter asking him to issue a corrigendum to rectify the understated strength but his request was turned down by the Finance Department, stating that the issue was under consideration at the Finance Department and would be expedited as and when decided.

This reply has created unrest among the rest of the staff at the E&T Office D.I.Khan who have deep sympathies with their colleagues who are getting no salaries since December last.