The Punjab government has abolished 10,898 vacant posts in the Health and Population Department as part of an administrative restructuring and expenditure-reduction drive.
The affected positions range from Basic Pay Scale 1 to Basic Pay Scale 16.
According to a notification dated June 24, 2026, the decision covers permanent and temporary posts that had remained vacant and inactive for an extended period.
The posts will now be removed from the department’s sanctioned workforce.
Existing Employees Will Not Lose Jobs
Officials have clarified that the decision applies only to unoccupied positions.
Therefore, it will not remove any employee currently serving against an active post in the Health and Population Department.
The government described the move as an attempt to simplify the administrative structure, remove inactive posts and reduce unnecessary financial liabilities.
However, the decision will also reduce the number of government positions that may become available through future recruitment.
Decision Follows Merger of Two Departments
The restructuring follows the Punjab government’s decision to merge the Population Welfare Department with the Health Department in March 2025.
The government introduced the merger under its broader austerity and administrative reform policy.
Following the integration, authorities began reviewing overlapping, vacant and inactive positions across the combined department.
Reports indicate that the Services and General Administration Department has placed 180 officers from the former Population Welfare Department in a surplus pool.
A surplus pool allows the government to retain employees until it can absorb or redeploy them against suitable positions elsewhere.
Separately, the government has reportedly approved 6,629 posts under the reorganised setup.
Population Welfare Services to Continue
Officials said the abolition of vacant posts would not disrupt health or population welfare services.
The Health Department will continue to provide population-related services through its existing programmes and newly introduced initiatives.
Trained health professionals and field workers will also continue their duties.
The government maintained that the removed positions did not include posts occupied by serving employees or active members of the department’s existing cadres.
It said the restructuring would improve efficiency without affecting public services or departmental performance.
The move forms part of a wider Punjab government campaign to remove long-vacant positions from different departments before the start of the new financial year.
The provincial administration has also reviewed and abolished unfilled posts in education and other government institutions as part of its fiscal consolidation program.
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