Recently, during a civil service reforms committee meeting, the monetisation of the hiring facility was discussed. This is a very positive step towards effective reforms. On one hand, this will provide relief to the already-pressed salaried class, which receives virtually nothing in terms of the ‘House Rent Allowance’ while doing the same amount of work as the ones receiving the hiring facility.
It would also help neutralise exorbitant rents and reduce exploitation at the hands of landlords. Moreover, it would release innumerable employees currently engaged in useless paperwork at estate offices/hiring departments, to be utilised in other departments for more productive purposes.
Adeel Ather
Islamabad