LAHORE, May 13: The Punjab government decided on Monday to fill vacancies in various departments that have existed for several years.

Governor Lt-Gen Khalid Maqbool (retired) took the decision while presiding over a meeting attended by 18 secretaries to the provincial government and the Planning and Development Board chairman.

The governor claimed that the government was committed to public welfare and directed the participants to ensure timely completion of development schemes. He mentioned that the government had purchased around 1.2 million tonnes wheat in 18 days. This, he claimed, was evidence of its commitment to farmers’ welfare.

On the recommendation of a committee headed by the chief secretary, he ordered filling of 5,000 vacancies in the Health Department in pay-scales 1 to 15. It was for the first time, he said, that the government had decided to recruit 4,900 doctors for basic health units. He said 1,548 doctors had already been hired.

The governor directed the Education Department secretary to start recruiting 30,000 teachers on the recommendation of local Nazims. The Agriculture Department was allowed to hire 102 officers in BS-17 and 30 cotton inspectors in BS-16.

The Irrigation and Power Department was also told to hire 34 sub-divisional officers and 117 sub-engineers. The president, he said, had committed the federal government to provide funds for repair of barrages and 19,000 miles of canals.

The Livestock Department was asked to fill 513 vacancies to improve its working and supply of meat and milk. It was also decided to provide better training and equipment to the field staff.

The meeting also decided to hire 89 tehsil municipal officers, 210 jail wardens, 74 technicians for bomb disposal centres and 25 assistant superintendents and deputy superintendents of jails. Forty-eight sub-engineers for Housing and Physical Planning Department and 60 SDOs and 29 sub-engineers for the Communications and Works Department.—Staff Reporter