MUZAFFARABAD: Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Prime Minister Raja Farooq Haider has said civil servants had a significant role in establishing goodwill of the government which they must carry out by ensuring service delivery to the people in the best possible manner.

He was addressing a meeting of the secretaries to the AJK government at the close of the fiscal year 2019-20.

“The entire official machinery is meant to ensure welfare of the people by addressing their problems in time… However, the responsibility of the civil servants holding key positions, mainly the secretaries and the heads of the departments, is obviously far more than the rest [in government service], in this regard,” Mr Haider said.

He reminded the public sector employees that they had been receiving their salaries and other allowances from the exchequer without any interruption, in contrast to those working in the private sector and affected by the lockdowns.

“Therefore, people rightly expect of you to leave no stone unturned to ensure the best service delivery to them.”

The AJK premier exhorted the secretaries to make certain the process of consultation with the cabinet members on policy matters and added that there should be no diminution in the respect and honour of the elected representatives.

“There should be no compromise on sticking to financial discipline as well as the rules and regulations governing all official functions. Apart from that the culture of strikes and dereliction of duty should be discouraged firmly.”

Mr Haider also expressed his concern over the rising trend of litigation by government servants and called for an end to it.

He also stressed upon the secretaries to ensure effective pursuance of the cases involving their departments.

Mr Haider maintained that there was no dearth of competence and ability in the AJK’s bureaucracy and his government would continue to fully appreciate and encourage achievements on their part.

“I particularly congratulate those departments and officials who sweated blood to translate the vision of the government regarding development into reality despite the outbreak of Covid-19 pandemic,” he said.

Published in Dawn, July 6th, 2020