Recommendations of NCGR to be debated in NA: PM

APS

ISLAMABAD : Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani on Thursday said all the provincial governments and other concerned organizations should be taken on board and consulted on the report of the National Commission for Government Reforms. Accordingly, he added, the recommendations would be debated in the National Assembly so as to achieve the desired results of good governance and better delivery of services to common man.
The Prime Minister was chairing a high level meeting in which Dr. Ishrat Hussain, Chairman of the National Commission for Government Reforms (NCGR) presented the interim report along with recommendations here at the PM House today.
The Prime Minister said that reforms in any sector need to target the common people who should benefit from the change.
“Redressing the 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.
The Prime Minister also underlined the need for changing the “Thana” culture by making it people-friendly with focus on resolving the problems of the people.
He said the government is promoting e-government system for ensuring fast delivery of government business and restoring people’s confidence in the elected government in addition to ensuring general public’s access to information.
While talking on provincial autonomy, the Prime Minister said he has already announced the abolition of concurrent list within a year and expressed the confidence that this would lead towards resolving the problems of people at the local level.
The Prime Minister also called for inclusion of jail reforms in the report for addressing the problems being confronted by the inmates.
He underlined the need for replacement of centuries old “Patwari” system by using modern technology and learning from the experiences of developed world aimed at facilitating masses and eradicating corruption.
The Prime Minister said the government is focusing on improving social services across the country and would extend all possible resources for the provision of education and health facilities to people.
The reforms, he said, also need to focus on better management of social sector both administratively and professionally.
Earlier, in his presentation, Dr. Ishrat Hussain briefed the Prime Minister about salient features and recommendations of the report.
The interim report presented to the Prime Minister claimed that it would bring change in governance besides improving the efficiency of government servants towards resolving people’s problems.
The Prime Minister in his remarks said that since parliament is the supreme forum for making policy decisions, therefore, 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 would later be given by the Federal Cabinet, he added.