Cantonment officials directed to undertake people-friendly initiatives

ISLAMABAD: Director General Military Land and Cantonments Major General Irfan Ahmed Malik has given 55 one-year goals to the executive officers to undertake people-friendly initiatives in the cantonments across the country.

Titled ‘Military Lands and Cantonments Department Mission,’ DG Military Land and Cantonments has directed all military estate officers to improve their public dealings. He also directed them to conduct the affairs of their respective cantonments with competence and on merit. The new DG also directed to digitise office records.

Maj Gen Malik directed reforms in the Land Branch and steps to eliminate financial corruption. Hinting at collusion by the officers and staff of the cantonments and outdated laws, he directed to stop blackmail and bribery. Advising to undertake a transparent process enabling people to submit building plans and get construction done, he said the affairs of building control and encroachments pose a daily headache. He also encouraged them to provide the best medical facilities for their staff. The officials were also directed to ensure board meetings are held before the 10th of every month. The sub-committees should have skilled staff. To save electricity, the executive officers were directed to check against illegal power connections and to keep an eye on tubewell operators allowing illegal connections. They were also asked to prepare a list of employees working at the homes of retired officers and send the list to the Cantt Board headquarters. Regarding retired staff, Major General Malik asked the staff to ensure timely payment of commutation and pensions. The DG also directed steps to ensure saving rainwater underground.

He directed to prepare balance budgets and keep account registers complete. They were also told to ensure timely payment of utility bills and ensure making sound investments during the financial year while paying financial expenses. To cut down the large number of cases pending in the courts, Maj Gen Malik to resolve the cases and complaints in the cantonment offices.