Provincial govts. to be consulted on reforms: PM

ASSOCIATED PRESS SERVICE


ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani Friday said all provincial governments and concerned organizations should be taken onboard and consulted on the report of the National Commission for Government Reforms.
Chairing a high level meeting here, he said that the the commission’s recommendations would be debated in the National Assembly to achieve the desired result of good governance and better delivery of services to the common man.
The chairman of the commission, Dr. Ishrat Hussain, presented the interim report at the meeting along with recommendations.
Prime Minister Gilani emphasised that refroms in any sector should be aimed at benefiting the common people.
“Redressing grievances and minimizing the difficulties of the people is our ultimate goal which needs to be kept in view while formulating these reforms,” he added.
He also underlined the need of changing the “Thana” culture by making it people-friendly with focus on resolving the problems of the people.
The government, he said, was promoting e-government system to ensure speedy delivery of government business and restoring people’s confidence in the elected government, in addition to ensuring general public’s access to information.
On provincial autonomy, Prime Minister Gilani said that he has already announced the abolition of concurrent list within one year and expressed the confidence that this would lead to resolving the problems of the people at the local level.
He also called for the including jail reforms in the report to address the problems being confronted by the inmates.
The Prime Minister underlined the need for the replacement of centuries old “Patwari” system by using modern technology and learning from the experiences of the developed world aimed at facilitating the masses and eradicating corruption.
He said the government is also focusing on improving the social services across the country and will extend all possible resources for the provision of education and health to the people.
The reforms, he said, also need to focus on better management of the social sector both administratively and professionally.
Earlier, in his presentation, Dr. Ishrat Hussain briefed the Prime Minister about the salient features and recommendations of the report.
The interim report on reforms presented to the Prime Minister says it will improve governance and efficiency of the government servants towards resolving people’s problems.
Prime Minister Gilani said that since parliament is the supreme forum for making policy decisions, the report should be thoroughly deliberated upon in the National Assembly after due consultation with all the four provinces.
The final approval of the recommendations, he added, would later be given by the Federal Cabinet.