QUETTA: In a move to address unemployment and widen access to public service, the Balochistan government on Thursday raised the maximum age limit for applying to government jobs from 28 to 43 years.

The previous governments also increased the age limit to 35 and 38 years but later withdrew the orders.

Officials said the provincial government has decided to fill the vacant posts and create new posts in various government departments.

Meanwhile, the provincial government on Thursday also lifted a ban on the transfer and posting in government departments with immediate effect and changed some deputy commissions, assistant commissioners and other officials.

Lifts ban on transfer, posting in govt departments with immediate effect

The initial ban, mandated by the Election Commission of Pakistan after it released the schedule for the Feb 8 elections, aimed to ensure the transparency of the electoral process in the province by controlling the movement of key administrative officials.

After assuming office on March 2, Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Ahmed Bugti, along with his 14-member cabinet, initially continued the ban, implemented on March 13, to maintain stability through the election period.

Officials said lifting the ban allows ministers to appoint departmental secretaries and other officers of their choosing, reflecting a shift towards normal governmental operations following the post-election transition.

The Service and General Administration Depart­ment (S&GAD) issued a notification on Thursday announcing the lifting of the ban on transfers and postings.

It said the chief minister had lifted the ban, imposed on March 13, on all kinds of transfer and posting in the entire province up to the pay scale BPS-21 with immediate effect.

Published in Dawn, April 26th, 2024