LAHORE: Punjab Governor Chaudhry Sarwar has convened a meeting of provincial heads and administrative officers of various federal agencies for Wednesday (today) to oversee performance of their respective bodies.

Prime Minister Imran Khan has tasked Governor Sarwar to coordinate and oversee functioning of the federal agencies operating in Punjab to spur their working and hold them accountable for any lacuna in eliminating public complaints against them.

Though no written orders have been issued for the purpose, sources say, all relevant quarters have been told by the PM House to cooperate with the Governor House in the latter’s coordination and accountability efforts.

The move is being seen as a `desperate attempt’ by the PTI government to improve governance and service delivery.

Constitutional expert Mubeen Qazi says being a representative of the federation, the governor may be given any task related to functioning of the federal institutions in the province and no law bars him/her from performing the task(s) assigned by the competent authority.

He quotes Article 101(1) of the Constitution which provides that President shall appoint Governor on the advice of Prime Minister. And Article 101(5) provides that the President may make such provisions as he thinks fit for the discharge of functions of a Governor in any contingency not provided for in Part-IV of the Constitution.

At least 108 provincial heads or administrative officers of various federal departments and agencies will be attending the maiden meeting to be held at the Governor House on Wednesday, says an official.

The meeting will discuss a mechanism to be adopted for a better coordination among themselves and with the Governor House, like having formal fortnightly meetings or keeping online liaison, he says. The criteria and procedure for judging performance of the agencies will also be finalised, he adds.

The governor has appointed Deputy Secretary Zaheer Abbas Chattha as his focal person for coordinating with the federal departments and agencies, the official says.

Mr Chattha will also have a regular liaison with the Prime Minister’s Delivery Unit for earlier removal of complaints of the masses against different federal agencies.

Published in Dawn, December 30th, 2020