The federal government has responded to recent comments made by Dr. Qaiser Bengali, a key member of the Right-Sizing of the federal government committee, who resigned from his position on Saturday.
The spokesperson for the government clarified that the right-sizing initiative is not limited to posts up to grade 16, but extends to grade 22, aiming to reduce government expenditure significantly.
The Right-Sizing Committee, established for institutional reforms under the leadership of the Federal Minister of Finance, has been tasked with reviewing government posts across various ministries and institutions. According to the spokesperson, the committee's recommendations, which were approved by the cabinet, indicate that up to 60,000 posts may be deemed surplus, including positions from grade 17 to grade 22.
In the first phase of this exercise, six ministries and institutions were reviewed. The committee has proposed the abolition of one ministry, the merger of two others, and the elimination of several posts, including two grade 22 positions. The spokesperson also revealed that a mandatory retirement package is being developed through amendments to the Civil Servants Act, which will apply to all civil servants without exception.
The spokesperson addressed Dr. Qaiser Bengali's concerns, suggesting that there may have been a communication gap regarding the committee's recommendations. Dr. Bengali had criticized the government, claiming it was not serious about reducing its expenses and was focusing primarily on cutting lower-grade employees. He argued that releasing employees in grades 1 to 16 would have minimal impact on overall expenditures, whereas removing higher-grade officers could potentially save the government up to 30 billion rupees annually.
Dr. Qaiser Bengali's resignation from the Right-Sizing Committee, as well as the austerity and cost-cutting committees, has highlighted tensions within the government's reform efforts. He stated that the government's approach does not align with his views on effective cost reduction, leading to his decision to step down.
The federal government's right-sizing plan, which is part of a broader strategy under the Shahbaz government, includes the privatization of various institutions and the closure of unnecessary departments. The primary goal of the initiative is to save billions of rupees in government spending through these measures.
