PM forms panel to cut size of federal govt

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has constituted a committee on rightsizing of the federal government with particular reference to five selected ministries under specific terms of reference.

According to a notification issued on July 5, 2024, the PM has constituted a committee on rightsizing of the federal government with the following terms of reference (ToRs): Propose architecture for functions of the federal government that can be undertaken in private, ascertaining functions requiring public finances which can be performed in private mode; and, analyse whether remaining functions have appropriate and economical architecture corresponding to them. Determine functions which are entirely provincial with no international obligation and without affecting common market principal. Recommend concrete plan with way forward and methodology, along with ascertainment to safeguard assets, human resources and other ancillary issues; any other issue relevant to the scope of work assigned to the committee.

The committee, in its third meeting, convened on July 5, 2024, chaired by Minister for Finance & Revenue, decided to circulate the latest proforma to seek necessary input from the following ministries on immediate basis, latest by July 12, 2024, for further processing of the case, as per the task assigned including Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication, Ministry of Kashmir Affairs & Gilgit-Baltistan, Ministry of States and Frontier Regions (SAFRON), Ministry of Industries and Production and Ministry of National Health Services Regulations & Coordination. In the proforma, the ministries have been asked to provide an organogram of the division, clearly outlining all wings and sections, and the total number of employees along with officer-staff breakdown. The ministries have also been directed to provide list of all entities (authorities, boards, attached departments, companies or any other independent offices) working under the division, along with following information:

Financial information: Details of budget including revised estimates for FY2023-24 and budget estimates for FY2024-25. Also a list of all assets, owned by the ministry, along with approximate market value. What are the functions of the division as per the rules of business? When were the rules of business last revised with respect to the division? What is the vision and mission of the division? What functions does the division perform? Segregate the functions between provincial functions and federal functions, based on the federal legislative list. For provincial functions so identified, explain the following regarding each function: What is the justification (if any) for the function being performed by the division? What impact has the division made in performing this function? What is the nature of the function? Regulatory 2. Market coordination, 3. Policy, 4. Developmental, 5. Catering to research, innovation or adaptation, 6. Other. Is there any international obligation requiring this function to be performed by the division? Is there any common market requirement justifying the performance of this function by the federal ministry? Do you think that this function should be: Transferred to the province; Shutdown entirely; Retained by the federal govt in its current form; Retained by the federal govt in a modified form; How can size and expense be reduced? What improvements/ modification can be made? Can this function be performed in PPP mode or the private sector with federal funding? Provide justification for your choice at above.

For Federal Functions identified, please explain: What is the justification [if any] for the function being performed by the Division? What impact has the Division in performing this function? What is the nature of the function? Relating to National Security, Law and order, or justice, regulatory, market coordination, policy, developmental, Catering to research, innovation or adaptation, other (describe). Do you think that this function should be: Shutdown entirely, retained by the federal govt in its current form, retained by the federal govt in a modified form? How can size and expenditure be reduced? What improvements/ modification can be made? Can this function be performed in PPP mode or by the private sector with federal funding?

Financial information: Budget or balance sheet income statement (where applicable). List of all assets, owned by the entity, along with approximate market value. Does the entity use federal government funds? What is the vision and mission of the entity? What functions does the entity perform? Segregate the functions between provincial functions and federal functions, based on the federal legislative list for provincial functions identified.

Explain the following regarding each function: What the justification of/for the function being performed by the entity? What impact has the entity made in performing this function? What is the nature of the function? Regulatory, market coordination, policy, developmental, catering to research, innovation or adaptation, other (describe). Is there any international obligation requiring this function to be performed by the entity?