BAHAWALPUR: The Punjab government has notified the appointment of first additional chief secretary (ACS) of south Punjab in line with its commitment. However, officials have yet to locate a building or any office for the secretariat.

During the previous months, there had been no instructions from the government to the local divisional and district administrations to identify any government building for the proposed ACS secretariat when Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar during his visit to the city had reiterated his government’s resolve to take rapid measures to honour his announcement regarding the establishment of the South Punjab secretariat with ACS’s secretariat in the city.

The secretariat of additional inspector general of police (AIGP) was planned to be set up in Multan.

Mr Akhtar Zaman has been appointed the first ACS for South Punjab and he is expected here on Thursday.

An official of the district administration told Dawn that a proposal of two buildings for setting up the ACS secretariat temporarily either at the Saddar tehsil complex or the office of the defunct district council was being looked into.

The Saddar tehsil council double-storey complex houses the offices of three government departments -- AC Saddar tehsil, the Parks and Horticulture Authority (PHA), and the Bahawalpur Development Authority (BDA). It is located in the congested area where the Baghdadul Jadid model police station building has been built.

The district council building is located on Railway Road and it may not be able to accommodate the secretariat officials. The ACS would have 18 secretaries and other officials.

Meanwhile, officials on Wednesday inspected other buildings and they may look for an independent complex.

Published in Dawn, July 2nd, 2020