ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Wednesday issued a stay order against the termination of services of 1,045 officials of Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS).

PBS management has issued letters to 1,045 contractual employees working in BS-1 to BS-20 informing them that their services would no longer be required beyond Feb 28, 2018.

Scores of PBS contractual employees challenged the above mentioned letter before the IHC.

The petitioners said although the Finance Division had sanctioned 216 permanent posts in BS-1 to BS-15 for the bureau, their services were being terminated.

They said the Statistics Division had sent a letter to the Finance Division seeking continuation of services of the 1,045 temporary employees from July 1, 2017 to June 6, 2018. The Finance Division is yet to assent the proposal.

The Finance Division had advised the PBS to complete the census activities by Feb 28 next year and make necessary arrangements during this period.

IHC single member bench comprising Justice Aamer Farooq after preliminary hearing issued a stay order in this matter and sought reply from the respondents including secretaries Establishment Division, Finance Division, Statistics Division, chief statistician and director general PBS.

Published in Dawn, October 12th, 2017