ISLAMABAD – Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has decided to abolish five federal ministries and sought a plan from the relevant ministries within a week.
Sources privy to the development said the ministries likely to be abolished included Information Technology, Kashmir Affairs, Science and Technology, Industry and Production, and Health Services.
They added that the relevant ministries started working on providing recommendations as directed by PM Shehbaz to abolish the same, says a news channel.
The sources added that the decision to abolish the ministries was in line with the demands made by Pakistan People’s Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, who had advocated for the abolition of specific federal ministries. The sources said that the prime minister also sought the roles of the ministries that have been transferred to the provinces.
Earlier, PM Shehbaz vowed to abolish all government departments and ministries that were incurring billions in losses to Pakistan and the exchequer, claiming that the move would save billions of rupees for the country.
In his maiden address to the nation after assuming PM’s Office, he noted that all such ministries and government departments which, instead of serving, had become a burden on the country and its people would be shut down.
He maintained that it was the government’s top priority to reduce lavish expenses and close departments and ministries not related to public service such as the Pakistan Public Works Department, saying it was among those institutions that were infamous for corruption.
However, the Prime Minister’s Office denied this claim and clarified that no ministry is being abolished.
