LAHORE, Nov 27: The PML-Q would like to have speakers of assemblies rather than chief justices serve as acting president and governors, says federal railway minister Ghaus Bakhsh Mehr.

Mr Mehr, a seasoned politician from Sindh, said the convention had been in vogue in the past, as he himself held the distinction of being the first speaker to be posted as an acting governor.

Talking to reporters at the Railways rest-house here on Wednesday, he said the ban on unionism would continue in departments covered by the Essential Services Act 2000.

Under the act, the army government had declared railways as a defence organization and banned unionism in all its departments except the workshops division.

The minister said unions were meant for the welfare of both workers and the organization concerned. However, in Pakistan, the tool had been used to shirk work and reap illegal benefits, he claimed.

Answering a question, he said his predecessor had re-built the organization and most of his policies would be continued. However, he said, policies that were not in the interest of railways would be scrapped. “The stress will be on merit and efficiency. Rigidity will not be shown on any issue.”

He told a questioner that the professionals who had been hired against hefty packages but were not efficient and up to the mark would be relieved of their duties. “No one will be allowed to receive salary while staying home.”

Mr Mehr said he would not introduce large-scale reshuffling in the organization, which could mar its proficiency.

About new recruitments, he said staff would be hired wherever required in keeping with the merit policy.

Asked whether he would prefer to make the railways a public utility service or a profit-earning organization, he said profit-making was necessary to run the institution and initiate new development projects. — Staff Reporter