PM sets up two panels for rightsizing govt structure, missions abroad

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif Friday constituted two high level committees for rightsizing of the federal government and to rationalise the structure of the Pakistani missions abroad for better efficiency and performance.

The Committee on Rationalizing Pakistan’s Missions Abroad is headed by Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar whereas the High-Powered Committee on Rightsizing of the Federal Government is led by Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb.

According to the Cabinet Division’s notification, the PM while considering the report of earlier Committee on Reducing Federal Government Expenditure, has decided to constitute High-Powered Committee on Rightsizing of the Federal Government for a detailed review and analysis, on the basis of initial work done by the earlier committee for reducing the size of the federal government.

Finance Minister is the chairman of the committee. Its members include Minister for Planning, Minister for Economic Affairs, Secretaries of Power Division, Establishment Division and Cabinet Division, Bilal Azhar Kayani, Dr Kaiser Bengali and Dr Farrukh Saleem.

The ToRs of the committee on rightsizing of the federal government include: i) Propose architecture for functions of the federal government that can be undertaken in private mode; ascertain functions requiring public finances which can be performed in private mode; and analyse whether remaining functions have appropriate and economical architecture corresponding to them; ii) Determine functions which are entirely provincial with no international obligation and without affecting common market principles; iii) Recommend concrete plan with clear way forward and methodology along with ascertainment to safeguard assets, human resources and other ancillary issues; and, iv) Any other issue relevant to the scope of work assigned to the committee.

The committee is asked to submit its recommendations within 75 days for consideration of the prime minister.

The Committee on Rationalizing Pakistan’s Missions Abroad will carry out a detailed review on functions and performance of Pakistan missions abroad in order to rationalise them for efficiency and economy.

Ishaq Dar will chair the committee and its members include Ministers for Petroleum, Economic Affairs, Commerce, Minister of State on Finance, secretaries of Cabinet, Commerce, Economic Affairs and Foreign Affairs Divisions. Dr Farrukh Saleem is also part of this committee.

The ToRs of the committee on Pakistani missions abroad are: i) Analyse size and numbers of Pakistan’s missions abroad in juxtaposition to requirements, scope of work and socio-political and economic benefits for the country and recommend a plan for rationalising the missions; ii) Examine the functioning of missions with regard to purposes and futuristic role of these set-ups, aligned with national interest of the country; iii) Suggest measure to improve efficiency of missions including internal structure of missions and station specific quantifiable performance targets; iv) Any other issue relevant to the scope of work assigned to the committee.

This committee has been directed to submit its recommendations within 30 days for consideration of the prime minister.