Islamabad; February 28, 2023: The Standing committee on Cabinet Secretariat today approved two PSDP projects worth Rs.105 million while pending six projects of Cabinet Division, observing that the present state of economy cannot afford such expenditures. The Committee also directed Establishment Division to carry forward their four projects to financial year 2024-25. The Committee met under the chairpersonship of Ms. Kishwer Zahra, MNA in Parliament House this morning.

The Committee was apprised that out of eight proposals, six PSDP proposals pertain to Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation (PTDC) while one proposal each related to Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA) and Special Technological Zone Authority (STZA). The Committee was further apprised that PPRA had demanded Rs.17.550 million for feasibility study of Construction of Its Headquarters, STZA had demanded Rs.2900 million for infrastructure development of Islamabad Technopolis whereas PTDC had demanded  Rs.4,258 million for its projects that mostly related to construction of its headquarters and marketing/promotion of tourism in Pakistan. The Committee was of the view that it would not be fair to charge such a huge expenditure on exchequer owing to the present state of economy. The Committee however approved Rs.105 million for two projects of PTDC related to establishment of tourist Facilitation Center at Islamabad International Airport and for Collection and Analysis of Pakistan tourism data.

The Committee while scrutinising PSDP proposals of Establishment Division directed to carry forward its four projects to the financial year 2024-25. The Committee was of the view that the said projects were either of construction of residences or establishment of recreational facilities for public servants. The Committee appreciated the thoughtfulness of the establishment Division however said that it was not the appropriate time for all that.

The Committee after discussion unanimously approved ‘The Civil Servants (Amendment) Bill, 2021’ with amendments. The decided to replace The words Federal Government or Government occurring in section 3 sub sections 3 & 4 and 19(3) of the amendment bill with words Minister In-charge. They Committee was of the view that the public representatives were answerable to the people thus policy decision making should remain with them instead of the public servants.

The meeting was attended Mr. Muhammad Sajjad, Ms. Shahnaz Saleem Malik, Mir Ghulam Ali Talpur, Ms. Mussarat Rafiq Mahesar, Mr. Muhammad Abu Bakar, Syed Mehmood Shah, Mr. Mohsin Dawar, Special Secretary, Establishment Division, Additional Secretary, Cabinet Division and Senior officers of concerned departments.