Caretaker Sindh Chief Minister Justice (Retd) Maqbool Baqar while presiding over a joint meeting of the Anti-Corruption Establishment (E&ACE) and the Chief Minister Inspection & Enquiries Team (CMIET) observed that both the agencies were understaffed and directed them to abolish their non-technical posts and appoint investigators and technical persons so that performance of their organizations could be improved.
The chief minister ordered the Chief Minister Inspection & Enquiries Team to start a 100-day Inspection Plan for all government offices including hospitals, schools, municipalities, and development authorities. The meeting was held at CM House and was attended by Chief Secretary Dr Fakhre Alam, Secretary Finance Kazim Jatoi, Chairman CMIET Rafiq Buriro, Chairman Anti-Corruption Zulfiqar Shah, Special Secretary Finance dept Shahmir Bhutto, Director ACE Shahzad Abbasi, Fatah Tunio of P&D and others.
Anti-Corruption: Chairman E&ACE Zulfiqar Shah briefing the CM said that the anticorruption was a special agency for the investigation of certain offences relating to corruption by, or enquiry into misconduct of Public Servants and holding preliminary enquiries against such servants in the province.
The other functions of anti-corruption include Inquiring & investigating cases of corruption in government departments, the public sector, corporations & semi-government Organizations. The CM was told that the total sanctioned strength of the anti-corruption establishment was 1416 against which only 679 were working and 742 posts were vacant. At this, the CM directed Chairman Anti-Corruption to abolish non-technical posts and, in their place, create posts of investigators, and technical officers who can investigate the cases, prosecute them properly in the courts and prepare proper files.
The CM directed the chairman to make his organisation – the anti-corruption establishment a trustworthy, efficient, hardworking and smart organ of the government. Chairman ACE Zulfiqar Shah shared the performance of his organisation and told the CM that during the last five years- 2018 to 2023 – it paid 328 surprise visits, conducted 158 raids, trapped 59, registered 759 cases, challaned 725 cases, of them 65 were convicted. At this, the chief minister said that the ACE would have to improve its performance. The convection rate is not satisfactory.The CM said that there was a dire need for capacity Building and Training of ACE Officers and Officials. He directed the Chief Secretary to ensure the holding of regular Anti-Corruption (I, II & III) meetings.
CMIET: Chairman CMIET Rafiq Buriro briefing the CM said that the main functions of the CMIET include ensuring good governance, public service delivery, transparency & efficiency and enforcement of office discipline and punctuality in government offices. The CM was told that the CMIT human resources came to 94 against which 53 were working and 41 positions, including four of grade BS-21, and 17 of BS-14 to BS-16 were vacant. The shortage of staff has affected its performance. The CM directed the Chairman CMIET to hire technical persons who could inquire into financial matters.
Justice Baqar assigned the CMIET a 100-day Inspection plan. The plan includes the inspection of DHQ/Civil Hospitals Qambar, Matiari, Hyderabad, Shaheed Benazirabad, Ghotki. The inspection of Registration and Transfer of property processes in Larkana, Sukkur, West Karachi, Hyderabad cities, LDA will also be conducted.
The CM also assigned the CMIT to inspect major schools, colleges, university campuses, and STEVTA Institutes at Umerkot, Jacobabad, Sujawal, Central Karachi, Tando Mohammad Khan and Benazirabad. Under the 100 Day inspection plan the inspection of the Water Management (Irrigation /Agriculture /PHE/KWSB) in Thatta, Sanghar, Malir, Mirpurkhas, and Badin would be conducted.The inspection of Municipal Services at Dadu, Naushehroferoz, Kotri, Shikarpur, Sukkur; Agriculture and Livestock Services in Tharparkar, Kashmore, Jamshoro districts and Development and Rehabilitation Works in flood-hit areas would also be conducted. In the 100-Day Plan, the inspection of District Accounts offices Thatta, Hyderabad, Sanghar and Matiari and Police Stations in districts Korangi, Tando Allahyar and South Karachi would also be covered.
