LAHORE, Jan 30: Monday (today) is the last working day of the four disbanded departments and two wings of the provincial government.
The government had disbanded the departments last month but with effect from Feb 1 to facilitate wrapping up of their affairs and transfer of their assets to the departments which would assume their functions.
The functions of the Public Policy and Change Manag-ement Wing of the S&GAD Department and the Inter-provincial Coordination Wing have been assigned to the Regulation, and Implemen-tation and Coordination Wings of the S&GAD.
The Commerce and Investment Department has been merged into the Industries Department. The Tourism and Resort Development Department has been disbanded and the Tourism Development Corporation of Punjab given under the control of the Forest Department where it will function as an autonomous body.
The Sports Department has been merged into the Higher Education Department. The Information Technology Department has been disbanded and the Punjab Information Technology Board made a part of the P&D Division.
PML-N’s Commerce Minister Sirdar Dost Muhammad Khosa has been given the portfolio of industries.
PPP’s Sports Minister Tanvirul Islam now holds the portfolio of mines and minerals.
Meanwhile, official sources say the departments which will perform functions of the closed departments or wings have been asked to prepare an inventory of the latter’s assets and take them into possession by Jan 31.
The assets include files, computers, vehicles and office paraphernalia. Officers in the disbanded departments or wings would report to their parent S&GAD whereas staff would be absorbed in the departments assuming their functions.