Abolished under govt’s right-sizing drive: PM directs third-party audit of posts, institutions

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday ordered an independent third-party audit of posts and institutions abolished under the government’s right-sizing drive and directed the reform panel to submit its remaining recommendations within a month.

The directive came during a review meeting, chaired by the prime minister, to assess progress on the government’s right-sizing initiative and efforts to enhance the efficiency of the federal government.

Sharif said unnecessary posts and positions must be eliminated as part of the government’s reform agenda, stressing that the performance of public institutions should be enhanced through technological modernisation, improved training and stronger management practices.

Referring to the closure of the Utility Stores Corporation, the Pakistan Public Works Department (Pak PWD) and PASSCO under the right-sizing initiative, the prime minister said the measures had generated savings for the national exchequer.

“As part of the right-sizing measures, the Utility Stores Corporation, Pakistan Public Works Department (Pak PWD) and PASSCO have been shut down, generating savings for the national kitty,” Sharif was quoted as saying in a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office.

However, the government’s claim regarding PASSCO appears misleading, as the organisation remains operational and no formal closure has taken place, raising questions over the administration’s assertions about the progress of its downsizing programme.

To strengthen transparency and evaluate the effectiveness of the reforms, the prime minister directed that all abolished posts and institutions be subjected to an independent third-party audit.

He also instructed the committee to expedite implementation of the reforms and finalise its remaining recommendations within one month.

The meeting was informed that the right-sizing measures had reduced the ratio of civil government expenditure to gross domestic product (GDP), while vacant posts across several ministries and government departments had been abolished as part of the restructuring process.

Officials told the meeting that recommendations were also being prepared for the right-sizing of state-owned enterprises (SoEs) and autonomous institutions as part of the wider reform programme.

Participants were further informed that the privatisation of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) and First Women Bank Ltd had been completed, while work on the privatisation of other state-owned enterprises was continuing.

Sharif reiterated that improving the performance of government institutions required efficient management, technological modernisation and stronger institutional capacity.

The meeting was attended by Planning and Development Minister Ahsan Iqbal, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, Law and Justice Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar, Climate Change Minister Musadik Malik, Adviser to the Prime Minister on Privatisation Muhammad Ali, Minister of State for Finance Bilal Kayani and senior officials from relevant institutions.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026