Technocrats of P&D Department Protest against Bureaucrats

Adnan Aamir

Quetta: Technocrats of Planning and Development (P&D) department of government of Balochistan have protested against the meddling of bureaucrats in posts which are reserved for technocrats, on Tuesday.

Cancellation of recently advertised four posts of Assistant Chief of Section is termed as instance of unfair meddling in P&D departments by technocrats.

P&D department is one of the most important and sensitive departments of provincial government as it plans and allocates development projects in entire province.

Four posts of Assistant Chief of Section were advertised by Balochistan government through Budget Book Volume 8 in the month of December. As per the service rules of P&D department these posts could only be filled by Research Officers of P&D department.

Balochistan Economists and Planners Association (BEPA), which is union of technocrats in P&D department, alleged that officers of Balochistan Civil Services (BCS) and Balochistan Secretariat Services (BSS) wanted to fill those posts.

BEPA protested against the proposed posting of BCS and BSS officers of four posts of Assistant Chief of Section and placed banners against Additional Chief Secretary (Development) outside the building of P&D department.

On 23rd December Chief Secretary Balochistan abolished the four posts of Assistant Chief of Section through an executive order.

Chief Secretary is not authorized to abolish posts sanctioned by Balochistan Assembly through budget, members of BEPA said.

“We protest against the unconstitutional move of Chief Secretary and will announce our future course of action soon,” BEPA members added.

BEPA, which represents 80 officers of P&D department, blames Additional Chief Secretary (Development) for depriving technocrats of the department of their rights vested to them through service rules.

BEPA members said that all important positions in P&D department have been allocated to BCS and BSS officers and that has crippled the performance of the department.

Balochistan Point has learnt through its sources that Services and General Administration Department (S&GAD) is contemplating issuing show cause notices to officers of BEPA on complaint of Additional Chief Secretary (Development).

Staff report

Published in Balochistan Point on December 30, 2015