Islamabad’s rightsizing process is expected to be completed by June 30, 2025 – Press Conference
The federal government has decided to abolish 150,000 vacant positions as part of a broader effort to reduce federal expenditure, Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb announced on Tuesday. The government has adopted a phased approach to reduce its expenditures, he added.
Addressing a press conference on Tuesday, the finance minister stated, “It has been decided to abolish 60% of vacant regular positions, or to declare them as ‘dying posts.'” This decision affects approximately 150,000 positions, which will have a significant impact on this fiscal year.
Discussing the ongoing reforms aimed at economic revival, Aurangzeb explained that, with the consent of the cabinet and the prime minister, the government has eliminated these 150,000 posts. He also stated that services such as cleaning, plumbing, and gardening would now be outsourced, as per the government’s decision. Furthermore, he mentioned that the government is also considering reducing contingency posts.
Aurangzeb further revealed that under the rightsizing initiative, the Ministry of Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan, and the Ministry of States and Frontier Regions (SAFRON) would be merged, while the Ministry of Capital Administration and Development Division would be abolished. Additionally, about 80 entities under these ministries have been reduced to 40, and a decision has been made to streamline 60 entities under the Ministry of Science and Technology, the Commerce Division, the Ministry of Housing and Works, and the Ministry of National Food Security and Research.
“Of these, 25 entities will be wound up, 20 will be reduced, and nine will be merged,” he said.
In the next wave of rightsizing, Aurangzeb noted that five ministries—Federal Education and Professional Training, Information and Broadcasting, Natural Heritage and Culture, the Finance Division, and the Power Division—have been notified. He added that the rightsizing process is expected to be completed by June 30, 2025. — ERMD
