Govt to Abolish 30,968 Posts Under Rightsizing Plan to Cut Costs

In a major administrative reform move, the federal government has decided to eliminate 30,968 positions across multiple departments under its rightsizing agenda. The decision, made on the directive of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, aims to focus on core governance functions while reducing unnecessary expenditure.

Briefing a federal committee, the Cabinet Division Secretary stated that out of the total posts marked for abolition, 7,724 are considered “dying posts,” meaning they will naturally phase out over time. The majority of cuts will affect Grade-1 jobs, with over 7,300 positions to be removed. In contrast, only two posts in Grades 21-22, 36 in Grade 20, and 99 in Grade 19 will be abolished.

Additionally, a review of government-managed commercial activities is underway to assess their relevance. Regulatory bodies have been asked to provide data on advisory roles and salary structures, although they will remain unaffected by the current rightsizing phase.

Senator Sherry Rehman expressed serious reservations, highlighting the contradiction of increasing cabinet size while implementing job cuts. She also raised concerns about the impact on employees nearing retirement.

The Cabinet Secretary responded that the initiative has already helped reduce public spending and will significantly boost operational efficiency across departments.