Observer Report
Islamabad
Adviser to the Prime Minister on Institutional Reforms and Austerity Dr Ishrat Hussain, said on Friday that it is easy to weaken and destroy state institutions but it takes a lot of time and effort to strengthen them.
He was holding a joint press conference alongside the Federal Minister for Information Shibli Faraz to discuss the current situation of state institutions and areas where the government is planning to carry out restructuring.
Prime Minister Imran Khan has recently ordered the establishment of a committee to restructure the institutions and suggest reforms. The committee will be headed by Dr Ishrat Hussain.
Sharing the government’s plan, Dr Hussain said that PM Imran Khan has directed him to appoint institutional heads in a transparent and procedural manner.
“We have set up specific procedures and have appointed a committee to select the head of the organisations,” Dr Hussain told journalists. “Earlier, the head of these institutions were appointed on the basis of vested interests, but the PM has abolished this trend and has decided to prioritise merit over everything else.”
Adding to the conversation, Shibli Faraz maintained that at present, the government is funding all existing institutions in the country, saying that restructuring might make the government unpopular, but the steps are being taken to improve these institutions.
The information minister also touched upon the issue of coronavirus in the country and made an appeal to all political parties to demonstrate responsible behaviour. “Many political parties are holding rallies across the country for personal gains. Coronavirus is a global reality, not a political issue,” he said.
Shibli Faraz said that the state institutions have lost their credibility to continuous politicization. He underscored that these institutions are often not found doing what they are supposed to do, suggesting political affinity due to their recruitments in the first place.
