LAHORE, Oct 19: The military government while introducing the district government system had claimed that it would reduce the cost of the bureaucratic set-up, improve efficiency of various departments, and decentralize government powers down to local level. But, so far, none of the objectives of the devolution plan has been achieved.

On the contrary, the management cost has increased manifold, while the efficiency of state departments have further declined as no clear business rules have so far been finalized to run district governments.

The government while unfolding the devolution plan had claimed that after abolishing the divisional tier in the departments’ hierarchy, the expenses being borne on the bureaucratic set-up would be cut. But, the plan was implemented in a manner that shot up the cost.

The government used to have eight grade-20 officers as divisional commissioners in the Punjab. In the new set-up, 34 grade-20 posts of district coordination officers (DCOs) had been created with all perks and privileges of divisional commissioners.

Similarly, there used to be only one grade-19 officer (deputy commissioner) at the district level in the earlier system of governance. But in the new scheme, 12 posts of grade-19 executive district officers (EDOs) have been provided in each district.

There used to be one or in some cases two posts of additional deputy commissioners (general) in grade-18 in each district. Now one district officer (DO) of grade-18 has been appointed for each department. Moreover, a number of posts of deputy district officers (DDOs) and assistant district officers (ADOs), assistant commissioners and magistrates in the earlier set-up, in grade 17 have been created.

According to estimates, there will be at least 100 per cent increase in the government expenditure due to the appointment of such a huge number of high-ranking officers.

On the efficiency front, one might find that the authorities entrusted with the task to decide rules and regulations for the district governments about one and half year ago, have not been “able” to complete the job even though elections to all the tiers of the new set-up had been held and the public representatives had taken charge of their responsibilities on Aug 14 last. The officers (DDOs and ADOs) appointed at tehsil level are not aware of their duties and authority. Work at all these offices has come to a standstill as no staff has yet been provided to them.

The development schemes initiated by the district councils are lying incomplete for lack of authority to utilize funds. People are facing hardships as they do not know whom to contact for filing of their revenue cases, etc.