Sindh CM directs bureaucrats to be punctual

ISLAMABAD: It may sound strange when it comes to Sindh but the newly appointed Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah has issued fresh directives to the provincial bureaucracy to check corruption, improve governance and ensure transparency.

In a positive development,the chief minister has directed all key members of the provincial bureaucracy including those serving in the secretariat or in the field including commissioners, deputy commissioners, senior police officers not to leave their areas/jurisdiction without informing the chief minister’s office.

Members of the bureaucracy in the entire province have also been told in writing to be punctual and regular in their duties. “The chief minister comes to office at 9 am and thus expects from every member of the bureaucracy to be punctual,” an official source said. 

In the province, which has been badly suffered by corruption and bad governance, one of the directive issued read in bold words “SAY NO TO CORRUPTION”. In his pep talk with provincial secretaries and senior members of the bureaucracy after assuming the charge of chief executive, the sources said, Murad Ali Shah plainly conveyed the top mandarins of the provincial bureaucracy to stay away from corruption and ensure transparency.

In one of the directives, marked “Most Urgent”, all the provincial Divisional Commissioners and Deputy Commissioners have been conveyed the chief minister’s order that they shall not leave their respective headquarters without the prior approval of the chief secretary, Sindh.

The directive, which boldly carry the slogan “SAY NO TO CORRUPTION”, said that these orders has been issued by the chief minister.

Through another directive, issued to all key members of the provincial bureaucracy, strict orders have been passed for observance of punctuality and regularity in office timings, meetings and prior information for headquarter leave.

The directive reads as: “I am directed to state that in order to address governance issues, it has been desired by the Honourable Chief Minister Sindh that the punctuality and regularity in office timing should invariably be observed strictly by all the civil servants in Government of Sindh. The particular gesture should be portrayed on daily basis for not only arriving and leaving the offices but during attending and conducting the official meetings as well. All the below mentioned officers shall stay in their respective jurisdiction/headquarters throughout the week irrespective of holidays.

“2. I am further directed to state that none of the following officers shall leave their headquarters/jurisdictions without approval of their superiors. All Administrative Secretaries while leaving Karachi and Commissioners, DIGPs, DCs and SPs intending to leave their headquarters shall inform to the designated focal person in the Chief Minister’s Secretariat, Karachi one day in advance.”

Sources said that these directives have been issued to undo the prevalent culture in the province where officers are rarely found in their offices. In case of divisional commissioners, deputy commissioners etc. most of such field officers posted in the interior Sindh used to pass most of their time in Karachi and Hyderabad. Now they have been bound to stay in their area of posting and attend their offices regularly.

Sources said that the chief minister, who is presently considering making some key changes in the provincial bureaucracy, has also desired to implement the development projects on schedule for which the CM wants clear-cut time lines to monitor the progress of development projects.