The Sindh government has decided to declare 58 posts of grade BS-21 and BS-20 as floating posts due to shortage of 50% grade BS-21 officers of Pakistan Administrative Service (PAS), over 75% of BS-20 officers and 80% of grade BS-19 officers. According to reports, the Provincial Cabinet was informed that due to heavy shortfall of the PAS officers and cancellation of additional and look-after charges by the courts of law, many important posts were lying vacant which were adversely affecting the functioning of the provincial hierarchy. According to reports, the administration at District, Division, and provincial level run by the officers of PAS cadre while Sindh is acutely deficient of the officers of particular group. Currently, Sindh is facing acute shortage of PAS officers in the province. According to government statistics, presently only five officers of BS-21 are working against 16 posts of PAS cadre, while 19 officers of BS-20 are posted against 67 positions, whereas 25 officers of BS-19 are working in the province against 59 posts assigned to the PAS cadre in the province. According to reports, while keeping in view the acute shortage of officers, Provincial Cabinet decided to declare 11 posts of BS-21, including the Chairmen positions of several important provincial departments as floating posts in BS-20/BS-21, which would be filled from amongst BS-20 officers of PAS, Ex-PCS and PSS on the basis of seniority. In fact, the situation for the provincial government is fairly problematic and timely service delivery for governmental machinery is difficult due to nonavailability of specialist officers in the province. However, Murad Ali Shah and team discovered a ready-made solution instead of requesting the center to post experienced and seasoned PAS lot to run the affairs of the province. Provincial government opted to avail the services of Junior officers or other cadres already serving in the Province instead of hosting more Federal representatives in the province. Surprisingly, the issue was invented by the Center when the Establishment division brought amendment in Civil Service of Pakistan rule 1954 on March 12 and changed the composition of provincial bureaucracy by increasing posts of Pakistan Administrative Services (PAS) from 299 to 1121. Resultantly, All Pakistan Provincial Civil Services Association (APPCSA) challenged the establishment division’s notification and filed petitions in the Supreme Court of Pakistan, Peshawar High Court, Islamabad High Court, and Sindh High Court.
According to reports, the Senate Standing Committee on Cabinet also heard the case and referred to SAPM on Institutional Reforms and Austerity, Dr. Ishrat Hussain for addressing the grievances of Provincial Officers as per merit and provisions of the constitution of Pakistan. However, the decision of the court is pending, and no mediatory role has been played by Dr. Ishrat Hussain so far. While, Chief Minister Sindh has ordered to fill up the important positions to ensure smooth functioning of government institutions and efficient service delivery by the system.
In fact, the inter-cadre rivalry is an old phenomenon, however, the PAS Bureaucrats sitting in Islamabad successfully exploited the ongoing rift between the PTI led government and PPP in Sindh while quadrupling their numbers across the country. Due to the PTI-PPP controversy Murad Ali Shah did not accept PAS Bureaucrats from the Center and opted to install his blue eyed on floating big seats. Presently, the case is in the court and hopefully, the court’s verdict would end the monopoly of a specific group in the country’s affairs and satisfy the deprivation of the affectees.
