National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq has initiated extensive administrative reforms in the National Assembly Secretariat, aiming to save Rs1 billion annually.
As part of these austerity measures, the speaker eliminated 220 non-essential positions ranging from grades 1 to 19, resulting in an annual saving of over Rs563 million for the national exchequer.
Previously, two of the three phases of administrative reforms were successfully implemented. In Phase I, 90 non-essential posts across various grades were abolished, followed by the elimination of 130 additional posts in Phase II. Phase III is expected to achieve further savings of Rs400 million.
These policy initiatives were approved during a meeting of the NA Secretariat’s finance committee, chaired by Ayaz Sadiq. The decisions include the implementation of an austerity plan, rationalization of the NA Secretariat’s needs, and improvements in the procedures for determining, eliminating, appointing, and promoting staff, with an emphasis on transparency and accountability. The committee also decided to halt further recruitment in the secretariat unless otherwise directed and formed a sub-committee to review the National Assembly Secretariat Employees Act 2018 to align it more closely with the Civil Servants Act 1973.
The sub-committee will propose amendments to the National Assembly Employees Act 2018 to determine staffing levels and improve the system of promotions and appointments. The meeting was also informed about the formation of a ‘ticketing and lodging committee,’ comprising representatives from all relevant departments of the NA Secretariat, to enhance transparency in work execution. This committee will define the roles of staff and officers more clearly and help assess their performance to optimize resource use.
Additionally, the meeting was updated on the digitization of the NA Secretariat, with a team from the Punjab Information Technology Board already working on the project. The speaker also directed the timely construction of additional blocks at the Parliament Lodges.
