ISLAMABAD: The Senate’s Standing Committee on Cabinet Secretariat on Tuesday expressed serious concern over inexperienced officials working on deputation and their prolonged stay beyond three years of duration. Committee Chairman Senator Talha Mahmood said that all such cases must be sent back to parent organisations. He said that the Establishment Division must review the matter and should make efforts in this regard. He also voiced concern over the adverse impact on promotion of officers working under individuals sent on deputation. The chairman directed the Establishment Division to provide a one-page summary of every case at least four days ahead of the next meeting. He said that a letter of apology must be sent by the Establishment Division to the committee, apologising for not providing details required by the committee. Senator Muhammad Javed Abbasi, Senator Mushahid Ullah Khan, Senator Rubina Khalid, Senator Sitara Ayaz, Senator Najma Hameed and senior officers of the Establishment Division attended the meeting. The committee pondered over issues pertaining to deputation, promotion and appointment of civil servants in Pakistan. The committee sought details of all such officers in the next meeting along with their domiciles. Establishment Division Joint Secretary Musaddiq A Khan briefed the committee about officers working in federal government agencies on deputation. A working paper on the subject was submitted that provided province-wise details of officers sent to Islamabad on deputation. When Senator Talha sought an explanation over non-provision of domicile details, Musadiq said that deputation was basically an agreement between two governments. “Since there was no quota for this, details such as these rest with the parent agency.” While discussing distribution of promotional quota between all occupational groups from BPS 21-22, the Establishment Division shared details of the apportioned posts of the Federal Secretariat among various occupational groups. According to the working paper, there were a total of 41 additional secretary-level posts and 39 of federal secretary-level. Referring to a public petition regarding issuance of confirmation orders to government servants after successful completion of probation period, the chairman expressed annoyance over the absence of the petitioner. He said that the petition would be deemed dismissed without the presence of petitioner in the future. Senator Abbasi was of the view that moving a petition without the supplicant was not possible, since according to law it was imperative that he/she should be present to defend his petition. Published in Daily Times, August 8th 2018.