MUZAFFARABAD: Azad Jammu and Kashmir Prime Minister Iftikhar Gilani on Thursday lifted the ban on appointments and transfers in all government and semi-government departments and institutions, and approved a major reshuffle of administrative officers, in the first big bureaucratic shake-up of his government.
The ban had been imposed by the Gilani government on September 4, shortly after it took office, freezing all postings and transfers across the territory’s administration. Under the original notification, departments could proceed with an appointment or transfer only in unavoidable circumstances and after seeking formal relaxation from the government.
According to a notification issued by the Services and General Administration Department, Deputy Commissioner Bhimber Chaudhry Muhammad Tariq was transferred and posted as Director of the Industries and Commerce Department. He replaced Muhammad Rizwanullah Khan, who was transferred and posted as Director of the Sericulture Department.
Deputy Commissioner Jhelum Valley Faisal Mughal was posted as Deputy Commissioner Bhimber, while Additional Commissioner Kotli Iffat Azam was appointed Deputy Commissioner Jhelum Valley.
Deputy Commissioner Bagh Asim Khalid Awan was transferred as Deputy Commissioner Muzaffarabad, replacing Munir Ahmed Qureshi, who was posted as Deputy Secretary of the Higher Education Department. Deputy Commissioner Poonch Syed Mumtaz Kazmi was transferred as Deputy Commissioner Bagh. No replacement for the Poonch post was announced immediately.
Part of wider reform drive
The reshuffle comes as the Gilani government pushes ahead with administrative and financial reforms. Days earlier, the prime minister dissolved the Zakat Council, removing around 3,000 discretionary appointments, including the council’s chairman and members, chairmen of Zakat committees in all 10 districts, constituency-level chairmen and around 2,300 chairmen of local Zakat committees, according to reports.
The chairman and members of the Ulema and Mashaikh Council are also being removed, while the Tajweed-ul-Quran coordinator has been removed as well. Earlier, discretionary appointees on the Chairman Prime Minister’s Inspection Commission, the Investment Board and the Cultural Academy were also removed.
Officials said the government is also considering a major restructuring and downsizing of the Zakat and Ushr Department to cut administrative expenditure. Reports said the department generates annual income of around Rs300 million while its expenditure exceeds Rs350 million, and an in-principle decision has been taken to offer a one-time separation package, described as a golden handshake, to 256 employees.
The postings and transfers are expected to continue in phases as the administration moves to implement its 100-day programme of governance reforms and development projects.
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