Progress on district cadre service reviewed

A high-level meeting here on Friday reviewed progress on creation of district cadre service as per mandate of the cabinet sub committee constituted by the Chief Minister for this purpose. NWFP Minister for Local Government and Rural Development Sardar Mohamamd Idrees presided the meeting.
The meeting asked all the provincial departments to submit district cadre plans to the concerned DCOs within next quarter so that formal announcement can be made on creation of district cadre in the budget of next financial year and ensure implementation on it accordingly.
It was decided to bring the services of grade-I to 4 employees of provincial government at the disposal of concerned district governments and notify as well as implement it immediately. Similarly, principle decision was also made to transfer the services of all employees up to grade-10 to the concerned EDOs and that of grade-11 to 15 to the DCOs.
The meeting was attended by Muhammad Humayun, Asstt Secretary Establishment, Muzaffar Ali Afridi, Secretary Excise and Taxation, Zafar Iqbal, Additional Secretary Finance, Muhammad Tayab Awan, Additional Secretary Local Govt: Muhammad Bashir Additional Secretary Law, Dr Jalilur Rehman, DG Health, Gul Nawaz Khattak, DS Agriculture, Noor Nawaz Khattak, DG Population Welfare, Syed Rasool Shah, DS Sports and Culture and other concerned authorities.
The minister noted with concern that most of the provincial departments except three failed to submit district cadre plans. He said that provincial government wanted creation of district cadre service under the directives and conditionalities of Local Govt: Ordinance, National Reconstruction Bureau and International Financial Institutions.
He said that the Chief Minister Akram Khan Durrani transferred all necessary resources and powers to the new LG system despite the province facing lot of financial hardships as well as constituted sub committee of the provincial cabinet for creation of the district cadre with clear cut directives. He made clear that provincial government wanted candid progress in this respect and was eager to give positive impression rather than negative on this important matter.
He said that present was the age of decentralisation of powers and resources and provincial government would never tolerate any lethargy on part of the government officials in this regard.
He issued on the spot directives for removing certain financial and administrative obstacles faced by various departments in creation of the district cadre service and made clear that he would ensure progress on it under his personal supervision. The minister took strong exception of the absence of certain officials in the meeting and cautioned that the officials concerned must be ready for punishment on absence or late coming in such important meetings.