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LAHORE: All civil, administrative and police postings and transfers in Punjab are now being made purely on merit, with no room for political influence by the ruling party\u2019s lawmakers or others, Information Minister Azma Bokhari has said.<\/p>\n
In a conversation with Dawn<\/em>, Ms Bokhari said Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz had enforced strict adherence to professional standards, ensuring lawmakers from the ruling party had no influence over transfer and posting decisions.<\/p>\n \u201cChief Minister Maryam Nawaz has fully ensured that all postings and transfers in Punjab are made purely on merit, thus ending Sifarish [nepotism] culture,\u201d Ms Bokhari said.<\/p>\n \u201cShe ensured during her two-year tenure that not a single appointment, even that of an SHO, is made on someone\u2019s reference. This thing was hardly witnessed in the past.\u201d<\/p>\n The \u201cstrict policy\u201d has reportedly caused friction within the party. According to Ms Bokhari, some PML-N lawmakers, frustrated that the bureaucracy no longer obliged their requests, conveyed concerns to party head Nawaz Sharif.<\/p>\n Minister Azma Bokhari claims \u2018Sifarish culture\u2019 dismantled from province, merit system enforced<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n The party chief reportedly rebuffed them, maintaining that his daughter was following merit.<\/p>\n Ms Bokhari emphasised the neutrality of the new system, noting that bureaucrats associated with the opposition PTI party were retained if they met professional criteria.<\/p>\n \u201cThe chief minister\u2019s direct engagement in evaluating senior officers underscores an emphasis on accountability and professional competence,\u201d the minister said. \u201cOfficers demonstrating strong performance are formally recognised, reinforcing incentives for integrity and service delivery.\u201d<\/p>\n Regarding development projects worth billions of rupees, Ms Bokhari said the chief minister had established a transparent spending mechanism that excluded lawmakers from handling funds directly.<\/p>\n \u201cThe lawmakers, however, can give proposals regarding the development works and have an oversight on them,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n The minister outlined a governance model centred on technology and structural reform, designed to replace ad hoc initiatives with integrated digital systems.<\/p>\n This shift includes the implementation of e-FOAS (filing and office automation systems) and e-procurement to manage administrative functions ranging from pension cases to contract awards.<\/p>\n \u201cRather than relying on ad hoc initiatives, the focus has been on structural reform \u2014 particularly through the integration of digital systems across government departments,\u201d Ms Bokhari said.<\/p>\n Shift towards e-governance<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cThis shift toward e-governance aims to modernise state institutions, reduce discretionary power, and align provincial administration with contemporary global practices.\u201d<\/p>\n To bolster transparency, the government has mandated third-party validation for development schemes and digitised the entire procurement cycle, from advertisement to bid submission.<\/p>\n \u201cThe system enforces compliance with procurement rules, safeguards data integrity, and minimises human intervention,\u201d Ms Bokhari said. \u201cOpen access to tender information and digital bidding has promoted competition and transparency, resulting in notable savings for the public exchequer.\u201d<\/p>\n The administration has trained 14,216 officials from 6,641 offices across the province in these e-procurement procedures to support the transition. Additionally, the launch of an e-Biz Portal has streamlined the acquisition of no-objection certificates, reducing opportunities for corruption.<\/p>\n \u201cPublic welfare, transparent development, and institutional efficiency remain the true benchmarks of leadership, and it is against these standards that the Punjab government\u2019s record is increasingly being judged,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n