The NWFP government has decided on Wednesday to transfer administrative powers of district level finance and planning departments to the provincial Finance Department. It was decided in order to remove a lack of co-ordination between provincial and district administrations and streamline the financial management system of the province.
Decision to this effect was made in a meeting held at civil Secretariat Peshawar with NWFP Senior Minister Siraj-ul-Haq in the chair.
Provincial Finance Secretary Ziaur Rahman, Secretary Administration Dr Ihsanul Haq, Additional Secretary Local Govt and Rural Dev: Sahibzada Fazal Amin and Director Financial Management Information Unit (FMIU) attended the meeting.
The meeting discussed the matter thoroughly and made necessary decisions to sort out hurdles in the way of financial management in the province.
It may be recalled that in a circular of Provincial Establishment Division dated January 11, 2003, it was proposed that the clerical staff of former divisional commissioners and deputy commissioners will work under the administration of the Board of Revenue. However, later the staff of district level finance and planning departments was also brought under the administrative authority of the Board of Revenue, which caused enormous problems for the provincial government's financial management.
Ironically, there was no mention that district finance departments would be administrative part of the Board of Revenue.
The Senior Minister, while directed the concerned authorities to remove certain administrative hurdle, and said there was no justification of affiliating essential sector like Finance Department with unconcerned department at district level when the departments of LG&RD, Education, Health, Agriculture, Works and Services and Social Welfare etc were part of the provincial administrative departments.
He said it was observed that instead of improvement it created difficulties in the system that could not be borne at any cost.
He said that the basic aim of any government is to improve service delivery system and streamline performance of the government departments that must not be made prey to misunderstandings and non concerned daily cases.
He also expressed his concern over the poor performance of financial management of various district departments and said the staff needs proper supervision and guidance at every level.
Siraj said that district staff of finance department always played a key role in budget preparation at provincial as well as local levels but in the new scenario, immense level of irresponsibility and lethargy was observed, which must be checked.
He eulogised the administrative capabilities of provincial authorities and said the officers proved their worth in introducing revolutionary reforms in health, education and other sectors made by MMA government.
He said that this process must be continued for future too.
He also expressed satisfaction over the performance of provincial finance department and appreciated the role of Secretary Finance Ziaur Rahman and Director FMIU Saifur Rehman Usmani for computerisation of the financial matters all over the province, introducing networking system, launching of websites of finance department at district level.
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