August 17, 2007	Friday	Sha’aban 3, 1428

PESHAWAR, Aug 16: The National Commission for Government Reforms (NCGR) has proposed reduction in the total number of federal ministries from 41 to 23 and that of divisions from 46 to 37 in order to bring efficiency to the government machinery and to ensure swift decision-making.

A proposal to this effect was floated by the NCGR a few days ago at a meeting, towards the end of which the provincial and federal governments were asked to furnish their comments on the suggestion, an official told Dawn here on Thursday.

The NCGR, headed by former State Bank governor Dr Ishrat Hussain, was established in August last year mainly to study the restructuring of the government machinery at the federal, provincial and district levels, besides the civil services, and to propose simplification of rules and procedures in order to ensure timely implementation of policies.

The NCGR has reached the conclusion that increase in the number of federal ministries and divisions by the current regime has not helped in bringing about a visible improvement in the government machinery, a copy of the draft proposal made available to Dawn has revealed. The NCGR, according to the document, has pointed out that some ministries have between 55 and 64 staff members each, which is highly sub-optimal from an organisational point of view. It said that at least 12 ministries have less than 100 staff members each.

For restructuring the existing set-up, the NCGR proposed that the total number of ministries be brought down to 23 from the existing 41 and that of divisions to 37 from 46.

The NCGR pointed out that until 2002 the federal government had a small cabinet comprising 16 to 17 ministers, which was effective enough. However, soon after the ruling parties came to power the number of ministries and divisions was increased, without any improvement in the performance.

According to NCGR-proposed structure, ministries that should have three divisions each are: cabinet secretariat, ministry of human development, ministry of infrastructure development and ministry of finance and revenue.

Likewise, ministry of technology development, ministry of energy development, ministry of defence, ministry of environment and ministry of industries and trade should have two divisions each.

The ministries that are proposed to have one division each are: ministry of privatization and investment, ministry of information and media, ministry of special and backward areas, ministry of religious affairs and minorities, ministry of law, justice and human rights, ministry of parliamentary affairs, ministry of regulatory affairs, ministry of inter-provincial coordination, ministry of social protection, ministry of planning and development, ministry of foreign affairs, ministry of interior and ministry of women development.