September 18, 2006	Monday	Sha'aban 24, 1427

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LAHORE, Sept 17: The out-of-turn promotion facility to provincial government employees, especially police is being withdrawn through an amendment to the Civil Servants Act 1974 expected to be adopted along with several other laws during the forthcoming Punjab Assembly session likely to begin from Sept 20.

The other laws on the agenda include Efficiency and Discipline Act, which would replace the Removal from Service Ordinance 2000, the University of Agriculture Faisalabad Amendment Act, Development of Cities Amendment Act, Punjab Local Government Ordinance Amendment Act and Ali Institute of Education Act.

Official sources informed Dawn on Sunday that the out-of-turn promotion was being withdrawn because it was creating problems for the government in the form of unending litigation. Anyone who got the out-of-turn promotion or denied started litigation, which had now become troublesome for the government.

They said Punjab was the only province where this facility existed. The federal government did not also provide it either. And again this facility had been availed mainly by the police department for promotions from inspector to DSP levels. Those below are governed by the police service rules.

Sources said the Efficiency and Discipline Act would replace the Removal from Service Act because the latter looked and was threatening for government officials. Its very nomenclature was a threat to those caught for any wrongdoing and it looked that every one of them would be thrown out of service.

The objective of such laws was always to improve and develop efficiency of government employees. The new law would give a detailed procedure for action against a government servant found committing any mistake.

The amendment to the local government ordinance would authenticate the decision to return the control of colleges to the provincial government. They were placed under the control of district governments after the introduction of devolution plan in 2000.

Through the Ali Institute of Education Act, the organisation of Lahore would be allowed to award degrees in less than six disciplines.