‘Establishment Division cannot address provincial issues on its own’

ISLAMABAD: Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Ali Mohammad Khan on Wednesday said that the Establishment Division cannot address provincial issues without support from other ministries and divisions.

Mr Khan was speaking during a meeting of the Senate Implementation Committee, chaired by Senator Dilawar Khan and held at Parliament Lodges.

The committee met to consider a point of public importance raised by Pashtoonkhwa Milli Awami Party Senator Mohammad Usman Khan Kakar in the Senate on June 8 regarding the Aghaz-i-Haqooq-i-Balochistan. The matter was referred to the implementation committee.

Mr Khan said that 5,000 posts had to be filled in Balochistan, of which 1,275 appointments have been made and 1,275 are still in process.

Sharing the job quota status of various ministries, he said that 97pc of Balochistan’s quota has been filled in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 94pc in the Aviation Division 93pc in Economic Affairs and 93pc in the Ministry of Housing.

He added that 84pc of the quota has been filled in the Cabinet Division and Ministry of Defence, 48pc in the Ministry of Commerce, 34pc in the Ministry of Industries, 51pc in Railways, 36pc in the Post Office, 94pc in the Ministry of Interior and 100pc in the Presidency.

He suggested that the committee chair call the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Textiles and seek an explanation for why the posts were not filled. He said 6,000 additional seats have been allocated for Balochistan in addition to the 6pc quota.

Senator Kakar said that Balochistan produces minerals and gas but lacks health and education facilities.

A Cabinet Division representative told the committee that efforts are being made to fill vacant posts in the provincial quota. He added that 3,000 appointments have been made in the FC under the Aghaz-i-Haqooq-i-Balochistan vision.

Senators Sardar Shafique Khan and Naseebullah also raised the issue of doctors from smaller provinces working at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences who were being discriminated against.

Mr Khan suggested that Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on National Health Services Dr Faisal Sultan be called on this matter, which the committee has decided to look into in the next meeting.