THIS is apropos the letter ‘MPhil vs MSc’ (Sept 30). The writer has rightly pointed out the apathy of officers working at the Punjab agriculture department.

All administrative secretaries of the Punjab government are bound to pursue the fiscal policies of their government through notifications issued by the finance department.

Therefore, in pursuance of the notification, No.FD.SR-I/9-21/2013 dated April 1, 2013, first the health department and later Punjab police and livestock departments issued notifications for the grant of MPhil allowance to all degree-holders who have 18 years of education.

But, unfortunately, after all the clarifications of the grant of MPhil allowance no one in the agriculture department paid any heed to the requests of the officers of the department.

The administrative department has asked its officers to submit their requests for PhD nominations on the basis of MSc (Hons), which clearly indicates that the qualification of MSc (Hons) is equivalent to MPhil.

But why the department is reluctant to grant MPhil allowance to all the officers is best known to the competent authority.

I, therefore, request the chief minister, minister for agriculture, chief secretary and the provincial ombudsman to look into the legitimate request and provide immediate justice to the officers.

A citizen

Multan

Published in Dawn, October 20th, 2014