Government to Eliminate Over 30,000 Posts in Rightsizing Effort

The government has resolved to eliminate 30,968 positions across various federal departments as part of a rightsizing strategy.

The Cabinet Division secretary updated the Senate Standing Committee on Finance and Revenue on Wednesday regarding the specifics of the posts being eliminated and those designated as ‘dying posts’.

According to the Cabinet Secretary, a total of 7,724 positions have been marked as ‘dying posts’ and will be removed in due course.

Further Ministry Reviews

An additional five ministries are slated for assessment to determine further rightsizing opportunities.

The majority of affected posts, numbering 7,305, are in Scale-I. Only two positions in Grade 21-22 will be affected, while 36 posts in Grade-20 and 99 in Grade-19 will be removed later.

The Cabinet Division secretary briefed the committee on the government’s rightsizing plan, stating that the prime minister has directed a reduction in the federal government’s size to enhance efficiency and focus on key functions. Institutional reforms are underway as part of this directive.

“The main intention is to streamline the federal government’s operations, allowing it to concentrate on vital duties, with additional tasks being devolved to the provinces,” he clarified. The prime minister has also called for a review of government-run commercial activities to gauge their necessity and effectiveness.

The Cabinet secretary affirmed that regulatory authorities would not be subject to the rightsizing process. However, these entities are required to provide data on their consultants, staffing levels, and compensation structures. The implications of rightsizing on autonomous bodies are also under scrutiny.

Senator Sherry Rehman voiced apprehension about the government’s reform methods, remarking, “The government speaks of cutting costs, yet it has simultaneously expanded the federal cabinet.”

She also cautioned that the rightsizing policy could impose substantial difficulties on government employees. “What will become of those compelled into early retirement?” she inquired.

The Cabinet secretary responded by acknowledging the critical nature of the rightsizing decision. “This action alone will yield considerable savings for the state,” he stated, adding that the removal of superfluous posts has already produced significant cost reductions. “These initiatives are designed to boost operational efficiency throughout government departments,” he added.

Regarding the appointment of new ministers, the Cabinet secretary commented, “The addition of new ministers is anticipated to improve the performance of ministries, aligning with the broader goals of institutional reform.”

The committee was informed that the performance of the Rightsizing Committee is being monitored regularly to ensure accountability.

The session commenced with the presentation of the Committee’s Annual Report, covering June 2024 to March 2025. The committee also deliberated on the finalization of “The Income Tax (Amendment) Bill, 2025,” introduced by Senator Zeeshan Khanzada on February 17, 2025.

Discussion centered on concerns that the bill might be categorized as a money bill, with members exploring options to make revisions without it being designated as such. Senator Rahman argued that the bill does not directly affect taxation.

“If a proposal offers improvements, we should consider it instead of rejecting it,” she added. To gain further insight, the committee decided to summon the chairman of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) for the next meeting before finalizing the bill.

The meeting highlighted the complexities of balancing financial prudence with administrative effectiveness and the difficulties associated with implementing extensive structural changes.

The committee chairman and members decided to thoroughly review the matter on a department-by-department basis and continue discussions at the subsequent meeting.

Attendees included senators Mohsin Aziz, Sherry Rehman, Faisal Vawda, Zeeshan Khanzada, and Anusha Rahman, along with the Cabinet Division and Ministry of Finance and Revenue secretaries, and other senior officials.