Islamabad, July 6: With the IMF breathing down the neck, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has decided to speed up the austerity measures and is planning to abolish five ministries, including Kashmir Affairs.
According to sources, Shehbaz Sharif has asked for a plan to eliminate five ministries. The Reforms Cell established by the PM has begun working on the rightsizing. It has also sought recommendations from the five federal ministries within a week.
The ministries to be abolished include Information Technology, followed by Kashmir Affairs, the Ministry of Saffron, the Ministry of Industries and Production and the Ministry of Health Services.
The five federal ministries have started working to answer the questions posed by the Reforms Cell and providing the recommendations as directed by PM Shehbaz to abolish the them.
The decision to abolish the ministries was taken in line with the demands made by Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari who had been advocating for the abolition of certain federal ministries.
The sources said that PM Sharif also sought the roles of the ministries that have been transferred to the provinces.
Earlier, PM Shehbaz vowed to abolish all government departments and ministries incurring billions in losses to Pakistan and the exchequer, claiming that the move will save billions of rupees for the country.
In his maiden address to nation after assuming PM’s Office, Sharif noted that all such ministries and government departments which, instead of serving had become a burden on the country and its people, would be shut down.
Earlier, the Pakistan Public Works Department (PWD) was ordered to be shut down on the orders of PM Sharif, who said it was among those institutions that were infamous for corruption.
PM Shehbaz said a ministerial committee was constituted to deliberate on the issue of redundant ministries and departments, believing “this is a step that will save billions.”
Sharif has also said that all those organisations and institutions which were causing billions in losses would be privatised.
