Aghaz-e-Haqooq-e-Balochistan package: 1,725 posts filled, Senate body told

ISLAMABAD: The federal government, so far, has filled 1,725 posts under Aghaz-e-Haqooq-e-Balochistan package while 3,275 posts are yet to be filled in addition to a separate six per cent employment quota for Balochistan in federal government on which appointments also being made.

This was disclosed by Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Ali Muhammad Khan during a briefing given to Senate Implementation Committee which met under the chair of Dilawar Khan on Thursday.

The minister said that Balochistan's six per cent employment quota in the federal government does not include the 5,000 posts that have been additionally created by the federal government to provide maximum facilitation to the people of Balochistan by providing them livelihood opportunities and bring them in mainstream under Aghaz-e-Haqooq-e-Balochistan package.

Giving details of appointments made under Balochistan's quota in federal government, the minister said 94 per cent appointments on Balochistan quota have been made in Aviation Division, 84 per cent in Cabinet Division, 48 per cent in Commerce Ministry, 84 pr cent in Defence Ministry, 93.3 per cent in Economic Affairs Division, 97 per cent in Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 93 per cent in Housing Ministry, 98 per cent in Information Technology Ministry, 34 per cent in Industries Ministry, 94 per cent in Interior Ministry, 51 per cent in Pakistan Railways, 36 per cent in Pakistan Post and 100 per cent in the Law Ministry and Presidency

The minister recommended that the top officials of the ministries of Commerce, Textile and Industries should be summoned in the committee's next meeting to get briefings from them on the appointments in their respective ministries under Balochistan employment quota.

The minister said the Establishment Division alone cannot ensure that Balochistan gets its due share of employment. Other ministries, divisions and related departments have to step ahead to play their role in ensuring that Balochistan gets its due share in employment.

"All those ministries, divisions and departments where employment quota is still unmet, they should be summoned in the meetings of the Implementation Committee one by one," the minister suggested.

The committee agreed with the minister's suggestion and decided that the officials concerned would be summoned for related briefings in the future meetings of the committee.

"Aghaz-e-Haqooq-e-Balochistan package is a first step towards strengthening Balochistan financially and politically and bring it on track to progress and prosperity,' Ali Muhammad Khan said adding that all the stakeholders need to play their role in effective implementation of this package.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2020