ISLAMABAD:
The government has decided to rightsize 16 entities of the Ministry of Food and National Security by abolishing, merging, and transferring them to provinces under the rightsizing policy of the federal government.
Food ministry officials told The Express Tribune that the government has decided to wind up seven entities and merge or reduce nine entities of the food ministry to reduce significant workload. The scale of the food ministry will be reduced by 30% in proportion to the existing pyramid and reduce the staff-to-officer ratio to 2.5 times from the current three times. The cabinet has given the greenlight to the plan, which will be submitted to the rightsizing committee by January 20, 2025.
The government has decided to merge the Federal Seed Certification and Registration Department (FSCRD) with National Seeds Development and Regulatory Authority (NSDRA) to be housed in the Ministry of Food and National Security and operate as a lean, digitalised entity. The government will retain only technical resources and abolish all remaining and vacant posts, amounting to a 50% reduction. The implementation plan will be submitted to the rightsizing committee by January 20, 2025.
It also decided to retain only international obligations regarding the Department of Plant Protection (DPP)-WTO. The government has decided to eliminate 100% of vacant posts and maintain only 50% of existing posts. The same decision has been taken regarding the Animal Quarantine Department (AQD).
Regarding the Agriculture Policy Institute, the government has decided to merge it with the economic wing and retain a maximum of 20-25% of officers having relevant technical expertise based on individual assessment. The government will eliminate redundant positions.
The government noted that it would digitalise and raise capability rather than size and ensure no duplication with the new authority (NSDRA). Regarding the Federal Water Management Cell (FWMC), the government will wind up this organisation and find the right implementation vehicle for the tubewell scheme and transfer.
Regarding the Pakistan Oilseed Department, the government will devise a policy for provinces to pay for any services needed and will abolish the rest.
The government will also transfer most functions of the National Veterinary Laboratory to the provinces. The government plans full devolution and will devise a policy to collect payment from provinces for any residual functions like Transboundary Animal Diseases (TADs).
The government will conduct a third-party review of the National Fertiliser Development Centre (NFDC) under TCP and will wind up and transfer any functions to the economic wing.
The government has decided to conduct a third-party assessment with TCP regarding the Pakistan Agricultural Storage and Services Corporation (PASSCO) and will assess alternative plans like privatisation, minimal operation to maintain an emergency reserve, or winding it up. The government has initially targeted a 30% reduction.
The essential functions of the Livestock and Dairy Development Board (LDDB) will be transferred to provinces, and the government will wind it up.
The government will also transfer the essential functions of the Fisheries Development Board (FDB) to provinces and will wind it up.
The government will also transfer the essential functions of the Pakistan Tobacco Board to provinces and wind it up.
The government will collect cess arrears regarding the Pakistan Cotton Committee (PCCC) and consolidate essential PCCC and PCSI under PARC and wind up the rest. A maximum of 50% of posts, post-consolidation, will be retained under PARC.
Regarding the Pakistan Cotton Standard Institute (PCSI), the government plans to follow the same model as the Pakistan Cotton Committee (PCCC).
Regarding the Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC), the government will carry out a comprehensive performance impact review through a third party, including PCCC and PCSI.
The government will also enumerate and evaluate patents issued, research cited, international demand, private sector demand, and competitive awards it had won. The government will also assess the impact potential and resources required for success. It will also assess the path to self-sufficiency and create a roadmap if feasible. It will retain only recommended lean, non-overlapping roles with a path to self-sufficiency.
The government foresees significant reduction calculated at a minimum of 30%. The implementation plan will be submitted to the rightsizing committee by January 20, 2025.
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