ISLAMABAD: In a major development, the government has introduced 13 major reforms over the past five months in reorganising the federal government, especially transparency and meritbased appointments to top positions.

The federal cabinet, headed by Prime Minister Imran Khan, has asked the high-level implementation committee led by Dr Ishrat Husain, Advisor to the PM on Institutional Reforms, to ensure timely implementation of the reforms.

Talking to Dawn after a meeting of the federal cabinet on Tuesday, Dr Husain said that one of the major reforms introduced was the appointment to the top positions of the government-run companies, corporations and autonomous bodies. Earlier, the premier appointed people to top positions with his/her own discretion as there was no procedure to appoint people on merit.

“We have introduced a transparent policy under which every post will be advertised,” Dr Husain said, adding a committee would select three candidates and the list would be sent to the prime minister for approval.

Dr Husain said the new policy also encouraged overseas Pakistanis to apply for these top positions and become part of the competitive selection process. He said 37 appointments out of total 65 had so far been made by different ministries through an open and competitive new process.

The remaining 28 positions would be filled through the same process after these posts fell vacant, he said. Selecting the right person for the right job would improve the efficient delivery of services by the bodies.

Dr Husain briefed the cabinet on over the implementation status of various reforms. According to him, as already approved by the cabinet, 324 out of 441 organisational entities (OEs) will be retained by the federal government as executive departments and autonomous bodies. The deadline for the completion of this task is Jan 31. Under this deadline, all formalities, including notifications, will be completed. These include deciding whether 43 OEs are to be privatised or transferred to Sarmaya-i-Pakistan. Moreover, the transfer of 14 OEs to the provinces will also be notified. Furthermore, eight OEs will be wound up, 35 OEs will be merged and 17 training institutes will be consolidated.

As part of the mergers initiative, the cabinet was informed that different federal entities scattered among various divisions had been brought under the newly established Poverty Alleviation and Social Protection Division. The capital administration and development division has been abolished and its function transferred to relevant sectoral divisions.

The textile ministry has been merged with the commerce division and postal services division with the communications ministry. The reforms plan in the civil aviation department will be implemented by the end of December, while restructuring plan in the defence production ministry is awaiting the cabinet approval.

Published in Dawn, January 29th, 2020