In a major move to cut administrative costs, the government has announced the elimination of thousands of jobs across various departments, including the dissolution of one ministry and the merging of two others. This decision comes as part of ongoing efforts to streamline government operations and reduce unnecessary expenditures.
The Finance Division issued a notification stating that all contingency posts within federal ministries and departments would be abolished as a result of the federal cabinet’s recent directive. The official notification, referencing Cabinet decision No. 231/28/2024 dated August 27, 2024, specifies that all contingency posts should be eliminated to contribute to reducing administrative spending. This measure aligns with broader fiscal tightening efforts initiated earlier in the year.
On September 6, 2024, the Finance Division further clarified that recruitment to vacancies in posts from BS-I to BS-16 across federal ministries would require prior approval from the Austerity Committee, excluding the Armed Forces, Civil Armed Forces, and law enforcement agencies. The notification also emphasized that recruitment for positions already in the pipeline would continue as planned.
Finance Minister Mohammad Aurangzeb, in a briefing held in September, confirmed that the federal cabinet’s approval had paved the way for these changes. The government aims to abolish 150,000 vacant positions as part of a rightsizing strategy to curb government spending. The Capital Administration and Development Division (CADD), one of the affected bodies, will be dissolved as part of this restructuring process.
The sweeping changes are expected to significantly reduce the size of the federal workforce, cutting down on unnecessary administrative costs and enhancing the efficiency of government operations.
