Rathore’s Reform Revolution: New AJK PM Announces Historic Downsizing, Governance Overhaul
Newly elected Prime Minister of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), Raja Faisal Mumtaz Rathore, delivered a bold and reform-driven first address, outlining a comprehensive agenda aimed at reshaping governance, strengthening institutions, and restoring public trust. Promising not only a change of leadership but a transformation of the entire administrative system, the Prime Minister unveiled several structural, financial, and policy-level reforms that mark the beginning of a new era for AJK.Ad
At the forefront of his address, the Prime Minister emphasized that the government would demonstrate change through action rather than symbolism. He announced immediate measures to curb administrative inefficiencies and reduce unnecessary governmental expenditures. One of the most notable reforms included limiting senior bureaucrats to the use of just one official vehicle. Additionally, the total number of secretaries will not exceed twenty, while the positions of Senior Additional Secretaries and Additional Secretaries are to be abolished entirely.
نومنتخب وزیرِ اعظم راجہ فیصل ممتاز راٹھور نے اپنے پہلے خطاب میں جامع اور عملی اقدامات کی تفصیل پیش کی جن کا مقصد انتظامی بے ترتیبی کم کرنا، شفافیت قائم کرنا اور عوامی خدمات کو بہتر بنانا ہے۔ انہوں نے کہا کہ تبدیلی صرف چہرے کی نہیں بلکہ نظام کی سطح پر محسوس کی جائے گی۔
اہم اعلانات:
• سیکرٹریز کی تعداد 20 سے زائد نہیں رکھی جائے گی؛ سینئر ایڈیشنل سیکرٹریز اور ایڈیشنل سیکرٹریز کی آسامیاں ختم کی جائیں گی۔
• سرکاری گاڑیوں کی غیر ضروری کھپت روکنے کے لیے ڈاؤن سائزنگ اور ایک گاڑی کی پالیسی نافذ کی جائے گی؛ اضافی گاڑیاں ٹرانسپورٹ پول میں جمع کرانے ہوں گی۔
• بائیو میٹرک حاضری پر کوئی سمجھوتہ نہیں ہوگا اور تمام سرکاری عملے کے لیے روایتی حاضری نظام کی جگہ جدید سسٹم کو ترجیح دی جائے گی۔
• پبلک سروس کمیشن کو فعال کر کے اشتہاری آسامیوں کی نوٹیفکیشن منسوخ کی جائیں گی اور ایک ماہ میں شفاف امتحان کے ذریعے تقرریاں ہوں گی۔
حکومت نے اعلان کیا کہ ٹرانسپورٹ پالیسی ازسرِ نو مرتب کی جائے گی اور ٹیوٹا کو محکمۂ تعلیم میں ضم کرنے جیسے اقدامات پر بھی غور کیا جا رہا ہے۔ گریڈ 18 سے نیچے کے افسران، سوائے مخصوص انتظامی اور پولیس رولز کے، سرکاری گاڑی استعمال نہیں کریں گے جب تک نئی پالیسی حتمی نہ ہوجائے۔
علاوہ ازیں، وزیراعظم نے مختلف محکموں کے لیے یکساں ٹائم اسکیل پالیسی کا اعلان کیا اور گریڈ 19 سے اوپر والوں کو ٹائم سکیل نہ دینے کا فیصلہ کیا۔ سیکشن آفیسرز اور معاون ڈائریکٹر کے تقرروں کی جگہ پر نگران آسامیوں کو ختم کیا جائے گا۔
خدماتی اصلاحات کے ضمن میں سکیل 1 کے مستقل ملازمین کو مستقل تقرری اور ایک اضافی تنخواہ دینے کا اعلان بھی کیا گیا۔ ڈرائیورز کی آسامیوں کو بی پی ایس-5 میں اپ گریڈ کیا جائے گا اور پولیس کانسٹیبلز کو پنجاب کے برابر مراعات فراہم کی جائیں گی۔
وزیرِ اعظم نے عدالتی اصلاحات اور تھرڈ پارٹی ایکٹ کے مکمل نفاذ کی بات بھی دہرائی تاکہ محکموں میں شفافیت اور جوابدہی کو یقینی بنایا جا سکے۔ ہائیڈل پراجیکٹس اور وفاقی معاہدوں کے لیے سیاسی پارٹنرز کے ساتھ مذاکرات جاری رکھنے کی بھی یقین دہانی کرائی گئی۔
The government will initiate a downsizing process that extends to lower administrative tiers, ensuring optimal utilization of human and financial resources. The Prime Minister also announced the merger of TEVTA into the Education Department and committed to drafting a new transport policy. Until this new framework is finalized, no officer below Grade-18 — except those in administration, police, and monitoring engineering roles — will be allowed to use official vehicles. All departments are required to submit their additional government vehicles to the Transport Pool within one week.
Reinforcing the commitment to transparency and attendance discipline, the PM declared that there would be zero compromise on biometric attendance.
Another significant development was the revival of the Public Service Commission (PSC). The PM announced the reversal of notifications that had withdrawn positions advertised through the PSC up to January 1, 2020. The Commission will now conduct examinations within one month to fill these positions strictly on merit. Moreover, all departments will now reserve at least 50% quota for direct recruitment for all posts except those with a 100% departmental quota up to Grade 18.
To ensure good governance, he confirmed that Third-Party Evaluation Act will be implemented not only in government departments but also in local bodies, development authorities, PDOs, and even the AJK Bank — promising accountability and efficiency across all institutions.
Introducing further service reforms, the PM declared a uniform time-scale policy for all departments. However, no time scale will be granted for posts above Grade 19. He also announced the abolishment of caretaker or supervising posts in departments where sanctioned positions for Section Officers and Assistant Directors already exist.
To bridge the gap between the government and the citizens, an extensive public facilitation strategy was revealed. The Prime Minister, Ministers, Chief Secretary, Secretaries, and departmental heads will hold open public courts (khuli kacheris) in every district. Additionally, complaint boxes will be installed at the PM Secretariat and Chief Secretary’s Office, to be opened every fifteen days under their direct supervision.
The PM also expressed his intention to bring judicial reforms in consultation with the higher judiciary to ensure the swift delivery of administrative justice.
On the development side, he reaffirmed that the government would negotiate with the federal leadership on hydel projects in collaboration with the PML-N leadership. He further committed to improving internet speed across AJK and strengthening the local government system to enhance grassroots governance.
In an empathetic move rooted in the legacy of Raja Mumtaz Hussain Rathore, he announced that all Grade-1 employees serving against permanent posts — with no litigation or claims affecting their status — would be granted permanent employment. Furthermore, he announced one additional month’s salary for all Grade-1 employees, to be paid from development budgets by respective departments.
Under service structure reforms, all driver posts will be upgraded to BPS-5, while police constables will now receive allowances equivalent to those offered in Punjab. Police personnel performing VIP duties will also be entitled to TA/DA like other government employees.
As a gesture of clemency, the Prime Minister announced a 60-day remission for prisoners in all AJK jails. However, this relief will not apply to those convicted of terrorism, espionage, anti-state activities, qisas, hudood, or murder cases.
With these sweeping reforms, PM Raja Faisal Mumtaz Rathore has signaled a strong commitment to efficient governance, transparency, and citizen-centered service delivery — setting the tone for a transformative term ahead.
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AJK PM Raja Faisal Mumtaz Rathore announces major governance reforms, downsizing, PSC revival, service upgrades, and public facilitation measures across AJK.Ad
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