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LAHORE, Oct 6: The Punjab cabinet fixed on Wednesday a minimum posting tenure of one year for all categories of government employees to, what sources claimed, discourage MNAs and MPAs from seeking their premature transfers.
The other reason for fixing the tenure was to make government employees concentrate more on their jobs rather than seeking "lucrative or less demanding posts" by hook or by crook and to hold them responsible in case of any shortcoming.
The cabinet, which met with Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi in the chair here at the Civil Secretariat, took the decision in view of the reported pressure from the elected people regarding transfers and postings of government employees of all ranks.
The sources said a survey report indicating hampering of the official work because of the pre-mature transfers was also another contributing factor. The survey said SHOs were on top of the list of the officials routinely seeking transfers, the sources added.
The chief minister said uncertainty about the tenure of posting did affect administrative affairs besides leaving a negative impact on the working of the government employees.
He said transfers and postings did not provide any remedy to corrupt and inefficient employees. Instead stern disciplinary action should be taken against them. The cabinet agreed that the undue transfers and postings of government servants were unnecessarily burdening the official kitty and that a ban on transfers in the education department had generated positive results.
NEW ASSEMBLY BUILDING: The cabinet approved the construction of a new assembly house at the rear of the present building on The Mall, and a new hostel block for the MPAs.
The existing assembly building was built in 1935 for 180 members. And the cabinet was informed that it had now become too small to accommodate the present strength of 371 members.
Officials claimed that the new assembly chambers would replicate the original building and have the seating capacity of 500 members. The present building would be preserved and used as governments offices, turning its main hall into a conference room. They said further details like the cost of the project and the time of its completion were yet to be settled.
SIALKOT TRAGEDY: The cabinet discussed law and order in the province. It was informed that the administration was actively trying to apprehend the culprits involved in the Sialkot incident.
The chief minister directed the administration to immediately hold a meeting with Shia ulema and give them details of the progress in the investigation into the Sialkot incident.
Discussing the incident of violence in the Nankana Sahib, the chief minister said the government was the protector of all minorities, including Sikhs. Best possible roads and other facilities would be arranged for Sikh pilgrims and tourists in the Nankana Sahib and those involved in the act of violence would not be spared, he said.
ARRANGEMENTS FOR RAMAZAN: The meeting approved arrangements for uninterrupted supply of essential items during the forthcoming Ramazan. It was informed that the Lahore High Court had given judicial powers to the officers of district governments for controlling prices during the holy month.
The chief minister said efforts should also be made for providing items like wheat flour and ghee to people during Ramazan at prices lower than during the rest of the year.
The cabinet approved arrangements for implementing laws on the maintenance of the sanctity of Ramazan and decided to take stern action against speeches and literature fanning sectarianism, wall chalking and undue use of loudspeakers.
