Staff Report
ISLAMABAD: Minister for Planning Development & Special Initiatives, Professor Ahsan Iqbal on Wednesday awarded appreciation certificates amongst the best performing employees at the Ministry while reviving the decade-old tradition which was started in 1999 to encourage the employees.
The basic objective of this exercise is to recognize, appreciate and improve the working of the ministry which I started in 1999 and continued till 2018, said the Minister, while distributing the awards among the best employees on Wednesday.
Total 21 officials and officers from all the cadres were shortlisted who were awarded appreciating certificates for their outstanding performance in respective fields.
Speaking on the occasion, the Minister noted that the public sector cannot punish employees because they come with a job security unlike the private sector which has the power to hire and fire; this has led to the lagging of the public sector.
The Minister stressed the employees to increase their efficiency and productivity for productive output, people work for a mission and do not see their working hours as a burden, he remarked.
“Irrespective of any government in power, such an exercise should continue to recognize the services of the employees,” he added.
Furthermore, the Minister hoped to continue such initiatives in the future to uplift the working of the public sector and emphasized to evoke courage and hope in public to pull the public out of the current crisis.
“Bad times encourage people to make an extra effort to pull themselves out of trouble instead of giving up in the face of troubles,” remarked the Minister.
Secretary Ministry of Planning Development & Special Initiatives, Syed Zafar Ali Shah congratulated the award winners termed it a landmark event to recognize the services of the employees who played a vital role during flood crisis and preparation of 4RFs and PDNA. “We all work under greater strain for extended hours but this event is to celebrate the efforts of those who give their best,” said the Secretary.
He underscored a number of other initiatives which helped in creating a conducive working environment at the Ministry. Furthermore, he added that this event is part of many other positive initiatives that are launched to improve the working of the ministry to create a better working environment.
