Faisalabad
Special Assistant to Prime Minister (SAPM) on Food Security and Agriculture Jamshed Iqbal Cheema has said that the government has launched a restructuring plan for the government organisations and institutions in order to further improve their performance.
Addressing a press conference at Ayub Agricultural Research Institute (AARI) during his visit to Faisalabad on Saturday, he rejected rumours about privatization of the institutes and said that the government had no intention to render jobless highly educated researchers and scientists.
However, their salaries are linked with performance system. “The best performers will get more incentives under this system,” he said, adding that the research fund was also being regulated so that the researchers could get necessary funding easily without running from pillar to post.
He said the government was trying its best to enhance agriculture yield by strengthening linkages between government, researchers and farmers.
He said that the scientists and researchers must mould themselves in accordance with the new system so that Pakistan could regain its repute as an agricultural country.
He said the government might hire the services of near retirement scientists and agriculture experts on the basis of their performance.
He urged scientists to play their productive role and develop new technologies and products to strengthen the national economy.
He said that commercialization of their innovations could bring repute along with financial benefits for the researchers and agriculture scientists.
He said the government strictly believes in merit and best salary packages would be offered to the “right person for right job”. The promotion, facilities and perks would also be linked with the performance, he added.
He said he was visiting Faisalabad along with Dr Ishrat Hussain, adviser to prime minister on institutional reforms and austerity, to have detailed discussions and seek recommendations from the officials of AARI, NIAB (National Institute for Agriculture & Biology), PARS (Postgraduate Agriculture Research Station), NIEBGE (National Institute for Biotechnology & Genetic Engineering) and other departments regarding the transformation.
He said the media should also focus on positivity instead of presenting negative view of the government policies.—APP
