PM awards appreciation certificates to ‘top 10 best performing federal ministries’
Sources recorded that Prime Minister Imran Khan presently awarded appreciation certificates to the “top 10 best performing federal ministries” under his government, with the communications ministry, planning ministry and poverty alleviation division getting top honours of first, second and third respectively. It is also said that the top 10 ministries recognised for their performance at a ceremony held in Islamabad were: Ministry of Communications, Ministry of Planning, Development and Special Initiatives, Poverty Alleviation and Social Safety Division, Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training, Ministry of Human Rights, Ministry of Industries and Production, National Security Division, Ministry of Commerce, Ministry of Interior and Ministry of National Food Security and Research, Addressing the function, PM singled out Minister for Communications Murad Saeed for praise as his ministry came out on top despite his young age. PM Imran Khan hailed the initiative as a “great opportunity” since every ministry would get to know how much the others worked. Our ministries will get incentives to work hard, the more we publicise this, he added. Imran Khan also said that when “marks” — referring to a story from his own days as a student — would be publicised and there would be a corresponding system of rewards and penalties, it would bring an improvement in the governance system’s performance. He said that no system without rewards and penalties could be successful, giving the example of performance gaps in private and public hospitals. “When I came [into power] I had very revolutionary plans to bring sudden changes but I realised our system doesn’t have the capability to absorb sudden shocks [and only by] incentivising will we bring optimistic changes in our bureaucracy and ministries.” Giving his recommendations, PM also urged that the criteria should be more refined and increased weight should be given to how can a ministry enhance its performance to benefit national interest and to bringing “out-of-box solutions” to common challenges.
Prime Minister also said the appraisal would be a quarterly affair, bonuses would be given on its basis, also adding that in future the top 10 ministries should not be proclaimed beforehand so as to ensure the attendance of all federal ministers. Moreover, the Prime Minister’s Office said the rewards were being distributed in accordance with “The Performance Agreement” signed with the federal ministries in which targets were set for them. It said the contract would assist to enhance performance, meet targets, address public issues, formulate effective policy and compile the data needed for good governance. The PMO added that the main purpose behind the contract was to evaluate the performance of ministries, enforce a system of rewards and penalties for government officials and enhance service delivery.