National Assembly Standing Committee on Cabinet Secretariat Friday discussed "Civil Servants (Amendment) Bill, 2014" for preventing civil servants from getting jobs in international organisations, financial institutions and donor agencies during their service and deferred it to next meeting for seeking views of concerned ministries.
The Bill has already unanimously been passed by the Senate and it was referred to the National Assembly for passage. Under the 18th Constitutional Amendment, if the National Assembly makes any amendment in the Bill then it would be referred back to the Senate for approval. If the Senate approves it with amendments made by the Lower House then becomes law otherwise a joint session is summoned for the passage of the Bill.
The committee met with Rana Muhammad Hayat Khan in the chair at Parliament House. During discussion on the Bill, Secretary, Establishment Division Nadeem Hassan Asif said while opposing the arguments of the members of the committee said that there is provision in the rules; a bureaucrat can do job in international organisations with the permission of the government.
Dr Nafisa Shah of PPP said that many bureaucrats are working with international organisations by taking leave from their parent organisations. "It is injustice and conflict of interests. The seats of these bureaucrats remain vacant for many years and work of government's offices suffer badly," she said. The mover of the Bill Senator Syeda Sughra Imam briefed the committee on other aspects of the Bill. After detailed deliberations, the committee decided that further discussion is to be held on the Bill for which the committee decided that after seeking view of the concerned ministry, the Bill will be discussed in the next meeting.
The committee directed the Ministry to provide complete data of the Officers of Grade 17 and above who are serving in different organisations with prior approval of the competent authority. The chairman also directed the Establishment Division to provide comprehensive detail of those officers who are serving out of the country within 10 days.
While discussing Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) 2015-16, the committee appreciated those projects which were completed in the stipulated period. However, the committee voiced concern over ongoing projects which have not been completed so far.
The committee recommended the construction of hostel for female federal government employees at Wafaqi Colony, Lahore and the construction of multipurpose community center at Pakistan Mint Colony, Lahore. The committee also recommended the expansion of hostel for working women at sector G-7 Islamabad. The committee also directed the Ministry of Planning, Development and Reforms to complete as such projects within stipulated period.