Says performance of govt institutions should be significantly improved through modern technology and better training
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif chairs a review meeting regarding rightsizing and improving efficiency of the Federal Government in Islamabad. Photo: X
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday directed authorities to accelerate the implementation of rightsizing measures aimed at improving government performance and efficiency, saying modern technology and better training were needed to enhance the effectiveness of public institutions.
According to the statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), chairing a review meeting on the government’s rightsizing initiative, the prime minister said, “The performance of government institutions should be significantly improved through modern technology and better training.”
He said eliminating unnecessary vacancies and redundant posts remained “an important part of the government’s reform agenda,” adding that the objective was to build a leaner, more efficient public sector.
The statement further added that the prime minister noted that under the rightsizing programme, the government had already shut down the Utility Stores Corporation, the Pakistan Public Works Department (Pak PWD) and the Pakistan Agriculture Storage and Services Corporation (PASSCO).
“The closure of these organisations under the rightsizing measures is resulting in savings for the national exchequer,” he said.
“PM Shehbaz directed authorities to conduct a third-party audit of the institutions and posts abolished under the programme to independently assess the effectiveness and transparency of the reforms,” it said.
He also instructed the Rightsizing Committee to complete its remaining recommendations within one month and ordered officials to expedite implementation of all pending measures aimed at improving the government’s performance.
According to the PMO, during the meeting, officials briefed the prime minister on progress made under the initiative, informing him that the reforms had reduced the ratio of the civil government’s expenditure to gross domestic product (GDP).
“Officials said vacant positions across various ministries and government departments had already been abolished as part of the exercise. The meetings were further informed that proposals were being prepared for the rightsizing of state-owned enterprises (SOEs) and autonomous institutions,” read the statement.
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Officials also briefed the prime minister on the government’s privatisation programme, saying, “The privatisation of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) and First Women Bank Limited has been completed, while measures are under way for the privatisation of several state-owned enterprises.”
The meeting was attended by Federal Ministers Azam Nazeer Tarar, Ahsan Iqbal, Muhammad Aurangzeb and Dr Musadik Masood Malik, Adviser to the Prime Minister on Privatisation Muhammad Ali, Minister of State for Finance Bilal Azhar Kayani and senior officials from relevant ministries and departments.
