The government abolishes empty seats and plans to rightsize 42 ministries by the end of June.

ISLAMABAD: As the administration seeks to decrease spending and increase efficiency, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb voiced confidence on Tuesday that the analysis and implementation plan for rightsizing 42 ministries will be completed by June 30.

“We have decided to bring five or six departments under rightsizing in each phase,” stated the finance minister during a news briefing to report on the High-powered Committee on Rightsizing’s six-month performance.
He was joined by Bilal Azhar Kayani, Convener of the National Parliamentary Taskforce on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and Ambassador at Large Dr Salman Ahmad, who leads the Implementation Committee.

According to the minister, 60% of empty regular roles that have not been added to the payroll, or 150,000 positions, have been eliminated or classified as dying, generating a significant financial effect.

“All is being done after proper ratification from the federal cabinet,” Aurangzeb said, adding that the committee will cut 80 institutions in half.

He also stated that the committee has chosen to outsource general non-core services such as cleaning, plumbing, and gardening in order to increase efficiency, and that the number of contingency roles would be decreased.

In terms of the economy, FinMin Aurangzeb stated that the first six months of the fiscal year were focused on macroeconomic stability, and that the focus has now shifted to sustainable growth.

The minister remembered prior efforts to reduce the size of the federal government, and stated that they are currently attempting to minimize the federal government’s spending of Rs900 billion.

“The goal of rightsizing is not only to reduce costs, but also to improve performance,” the minister stated.

He also stated that the finance ministry will have real-time visibility into the cash balances of all government agencies. “It cannot happen that at one side we are borrowing and on other government departments have idle cash balances.”

However, he clarified that it has nothing to do with persons and is being implemented in all ministries.

He stated that six ministries were processed during Wave-1, including Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit Baltistan, SAFRON, Information Technology and Telecom, Industries and Production, National Health Services Regulations and Coordination, and Capital Development Authority (CAD).

Aurangzeb stated that the committee has resolved to consolidate the Ministries of Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan, as well as the States and Frontier Regions (SAFRON), while abolishing CAD.