Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif directs authorities to accelerate rightsizing reforms, strengthen transparency through third-party audits, and modernize public institutions with technology and workforce training.
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has directed authorities to accelerate the federal government’s rightsizing programme, stressing that administrative reforms, technological innovation, and workforce development are essential to building a more efficient and accountable public sector.
Chairing a high-level meeting on the government’s institutional reform agenda, the prime minister reviewed progress on measures designed to reduce the size of the public sector, eliminate unnecessary expenditures, and improve the delivery of public services.
Shehbaz Sharif said government institutions must embrace modern digital technologies while ensuring public sector employees receive professional training to adapt to new administrative systems. He emphasized that improved efficiency, transparency, and accountability remain central to the government’s reform strategy.
The prime minister noted that the rightsizing initiative has already produced positive results by reducing unnecessary spending and improving the utilization of public resources. As part of the reforms, the government has abolished or restructured several organizations, including the Utility Stores Corporation, Pakistan Public Works Department (Pak PWD), and the Pakistan Agricultural Storage and Services Corporation (PASSCO), to eliminate overlapping functions and reduce the financial burden on the national exchequer.
Highlighting the importance of accountability, Shehbaz Sharif ordered an independent third-party audit of all abolished institutions and positions under the rightsizing programme. The audit will assess whether the reforms have achieved their intended financial savings and administrative improvements.
Officials informed the meeting that vacant positions across multiple federal ministries and departments have also been eliminated to streamline government operations. The participants were further briefed on ongoing efforts to privatize selected state-owned enterprises as part of Pakistan’s broader economic reform programme. The government expects privatization to reduce losses, attract investment, improve management, and enhance productivity.
The prime minister reiterated that savings generated through the reforms would strengthen public finances and create greater fiscal space for investment in education, healthcare, infrastructure, and economic development.
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