KARACHI, Dec 14: All the heads of the provincial government departments in Sindh have been directed to ensure that the official correspondence with the district governments is made through the Nazims instead of the District Coordination Officers (DCO) of respective governments.

The official letters should be addressed to the Nazims for they have been made responsible for administration of the district governments under the devolution of power program since August 14, 2001, said Javed Ashraf Hussain, provincial chief secretary, in a letter containing policy guidelines for secretaries and other heads of departments.

He also made it clear that the district Nazims would head all the organizations formerly headed by the deputy commissioners.

As regards the salaries of Nazims, the chief secretary directed to fix their pay on a uniform basis all over the province; however, high costs of living or the hardships faced in certain districts would be considered while finalizing the pay structure. Besides, he said, the Executive District Officers (EDO) should be appointed on need basis in the district governments.

“It should be absolutely clear that government officials would function as the subordinates of the Nazims,” the chief secretary wrote, warning that action would be taken against those showing hesitation in that respect.—PPI