All departments to perform duties regarding local government elections as national responsibility: CS Punjab

Lahore: Chief Secretary Punjab Khizar Hayat Gondal has directed all provincial departments to perform duties regarding local government elections as national responsibility and take all possible steps for ensuring transparency in the polls.

He was presiding over a meeting of Administrative Secretaries at Civil Secretaries here on Wednesday. The meeting discussed, in detail, local government elections in Punjab, steps for resolving problems of overseas Pakistanis, implementation of job quota for special persons, and other matters.

Addressing the meeting, the Chief Secretary said that holding of local government elections is a national responsibility; relevant departments should play their due legal role in this regard.

He said that problems of overseas Pakistanis should be resolved on priority basis. He directed all departments to extend full cooperation to Punjab Overseas Pakistanis Commission for resolving problems of Pakistanis living abroad. He issued instructions to administrative secretaries to ensure implementation of job quota for special persons and complete the recruitment process as early as possible. He also ordered early disposal of pension cases and departmental inquiries.

Local Government and Community Development Secretary Khalid Masood Chaudhry gave detailed briefing about local bodies’ elections in Punjab. He said that the Election Commission of Pakistan has devised a comprehensive programme for training of election staff and its first phase has been started.

Those among present were: Senior Member Board of Revenue, Additional Chief Secretary, Commissioner Overseas Pakistanis, secretaries of different departments including Law, Local Government, Information, Regulation, and Services.