LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has ordered the abolition of 31 Deputy Secretary posts across 20 provincial departments as part of the government’s ongoing austerity and administrative reform drive.
The decision was communicated through an official notification issued by the General Wing of the Services and General Administration Department (S&GAD). The move is aimed at reducing unnecessary government expenditure, removing redundant positions and ensuring more effective utilisation of available human resources.
The latest restructuring follows the Punjab government’s earlier efforts to eliminate unnecessary posts at the district level. Officials said the austerity campaign is now being extended to senior administrative positions within the provincial secretariat to reduce operational costs and improve governance efficiency.
Among the departments affected, four Deputy Secretary posts have been abolished in the Home Department, while three posts have been removed from the Higher Education Department in Lahore. The Irrigation Department will lose one Deputy Secretary General post, while one Deputy Secretary position each has been abolished in the Forest and Wildlife Department and the Housing Department.
The abolition of the 31 Deputy Secretary positions will also lead to the elimination of more than 150 supporting posts associated with the offices. These include Personal Assistants, clerical employees and Class-IV staff.
Officials said the affected officers will not be removed from government service. Instead, they will be redeployed and assigned responsibilities in field formations across Punjab. Some officers may be posted as Additional Assistant Commissioners (AACs) or Additional Deputy Commissioners (Revenue), allowing the government to utilise their administrative experience in public service delivery.
Supporting staff will also be accommodated against available vacancies in other government departments.
The decision forms part of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz’s broader efforts to create a leaner, more economical and performance-oriented provincial administration. The Punjab government has emphasised cutting unnecessary expenditure, improving institutional efficiency and ensuring that public funds are used effectively.
Officials said a detailed review of departmental structures is still under way, with further administrative reforms expected as the government continues its austerity and governance improvement measures.
The Punjab administration believes that reducing redundant positions can help lower operational costs while streamlining decision-making and improving the delivery of public services.
