Departments’ restructure plan sent to Punjab CM

LAHORE: In order to implement the vision of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif for the restructuring of provincial departments, several recommendations have been prepared on the direction of Chief Secretary Zahid Akhtar Zaman.

Sources told “Jang” that according to the recommendations that have been sent to the Chief Minister, the name of the Food Department will be changed to the Department of Commodities Management and Control (CM&C). By merging the posts of Director Food and Director Punjab Institute of Agriculture Marketing, the post will be renamed as Director Commodities. The administrative control of the Food Department and all its sub-departments will be transferred to the new Department of Commodities Management & Control (CM&C). Sources said that according to the proposed restructuring of departments, Punjab Food Authority (PFA) will be brought under the I&C wing (Implementation & Coordination) of S&GAD Department. According to the proposals, a separate department will be created to be called Water and Sanitation Department (W&SD).

All water and sanitation responsibilities in the province will be brought under the new proposed (W&SD). Sources said that the responsibilities of providing water and sanitation facilities which are performed by the Metropolitan and Municipal Corporations under the Local Government Act 2022 will also be given to the Water and Sanitation Department (W&SD).

All the libraries of Punjab will be under the Director General Libraries while the administrative control of this Directorate will be given to the Punjab Higher Education Department. Earlier, the control of the libraries of the province was with the archives and libraries department of S&GAD. In restructuring, it is proposed to abolish this department.

According to the proposals, the administrative control of the Office of the Administrator, Zakat and Ushr Punjab and the Punjab Social Protection Authority will be given to the Department of Social Welfare and Baitul Mal, while the abolition of the Zakat and Ushr Department is also part of the restructuring.

The administrative control of Punjab Vocational Training Colleges will be given to the Department of Industries and Commerce. According to the restructuring proposals, the Tourism Department will be renamed Heritage & Culture Department. All the responsibilities related to culture will be taken from the Department of Information and Culture and given to the Department of Tourism and Heritage (Heritage & Culture).