November 23, 2007	Friday	Ziqa’ad 12, 1428

ISLAMABAD, Nov 22: Twenty-six staff members of six district councils on Thursday completed a three-day training workshop in office management. The training, organised by the US Agency for International Development (USAID), was aimed at developing skills of the staff in office management procedures including drafting, filing, correspondence, diary and dispatch, conduct of business and other necessary office work at the district council secretariats.

It is part of the $1.5 billion aid that the US government is providing through USAID for the last five years to improve governance, education, health and economic sectors in Pakistan.

Speaking on the occasion, Tariq Sohail, director organisational development, Districts That Work (DTW) project, said a weak staff member could affect the overall performance of the council. “The staff members must know how to manage the office,” he added.

“Under the local governance ordinance, district council secretariats have a key role in supporting the council. Unfortunately, he said, most of the councils lack in basic secretarial skills such as taking minutes, preparing and circulating memos, good filing and other office management procedures.

USAID, under the DTW project, is working to strengthen the district councils after introduction of the local government system in the country and has been imparting training to the staff members of district council secretariats.

Ghulam Shabbir, district council officer Khanewal, who participated in the training session, said lack of skilled office workers was the main hurdle in the smooth and precise functioning of the district councils.

“The training programme should be extended to all districts across the country in order to produce maximum learned staff,” he added.

Officials of USAID, on the occasion, pledged to introduce training sessions in other districts in the coming months, adding that the project had gained popularity in many areas of the country.