PML-N Political Desk

[SBD-3]

 

[Jango]

The ad is supposedly for Punjab, but 5 out of 6 buildings are of Lahore! Correct me if I am wrong here with those 2 towers.

 

[SBD-3]

The ad is supposedly for Punjab, but 5 out of 6 buildings is of Lahore! Correct me if I am wrong here with those 2 towers.

Of couse, one is PITB tower (the taller one), don't know about the other one. The point is that these people are going to head provincial government departments, not the lahore metropolitan committees.

 

[Jango]

Of couse, one is PITB tower (the taller one), don't know about the other one. The point is that these people are going to head provincial government departments, not the lahore metropolitan committees.

Yup, so give due representation to the other cities as well. I am sure Sialkot, Gujranwala, Bahawalpur, Pindi have enough monuments to warrant a place here...don't you think?

This was one of the major criticisms of the previous N league government, they don't think outside Lahore.

This is something I am discussing in another thread, the failures database one.

 

[SBD-3]

Yup, so give due representation to the other cities as well. I am sure Sialkot, Gujranwala, Bahawalpur, Pindi have enough monuments to warrant a place here...don't you think?

This was one of the major criticisms of the previous N league government, they don't think outside Lahore.

This is something I am discussing in another thread, the failures database one.

Uss banday se bohat bari galti hogaye hay Faisalabad ka ghanta ghar hona chehyay tha, I agree

 

[Jango]

Uss banday se bohat bari galti hogaye hay Faisalabad ka ghanta ghar hona chehyay tha, I agree

Yup, that is an iconic place.

COming back to the purpose of the ad, it follows on the heels of the federal position ads for PIA etc...a good initiative, got to admit.

BUt it also raises a question, the previous government was also on N league, so didn't they appoint good people back then in Punjab that they are giving ads now for honest people?

For federal organisations, it makes sense since PPP stuffed it with their jiyalas and all, but wasn't Punjab hiring people only on merit since 2008?

 

[SBD-3]

Yup, that is an iconic place.

COming back to the purpose of the ad, it follows on the heels of the federal position ads for PIA etc...a good initiative, got to admit.

BUt it also raises a question, the previous government was also on N league, so didn't they appoint good people back then in Punjab that they are giving ads now for honest people?

For federal organisations, it makes sense since PPP stuffed it with their jiyalas and all, but wasn't Punjab hiring people only on merit since 2008?

To name a few
1-Dr.Miftah Ismail was brought by SS to head punjab investment board
2-Umer saif was invited by SS to develop PITB
He had close interaction and was always in talent hunt. For example he had reached out to Dr.Asim Khawaja (current faculty in harvard university). Even Asad Umar had very good relationships with SS. 14 Ministries were held by himself because 1)Austerity 2)Lack of suitable candidates. He was the one who groomed Mr Kamran Michel by entrusting him with ministry of finance and now he heads off to national ministry. So suffice to say that he still needs good people to work in his team because 1) Some of his good team members are already taken away by NS 2)Our political system is still full with imperfections and would take time to correct itself.

 

[Jango]

To name a few
1-Dr.Miftah Ismail was brought by SS to head punjab investment board
2-Umer saif was invited by SS to develop PITB
He had close interaction and was always in talent hunt. For example he had reached out to Dr.Asim Khawaja (current faculty in harvard university). Even Asad Umar had very good relationships with SS. 14 Ministries were held by himself because 1)Austerity 2)Lack of suitable candidates. He was the one who groomed Mr Kamran Michel by entrusting him with ministry of finance and now he heads off to national ministry. So suffice to say that he still needs good people to work in his team because 1) Some of his good team members are already taken away by NS 2)Our political system is still full with imperfections and would take time to correct itself.

Fair enough...

Even though I disagree with him holding 14 ministries.

 

[SBD-3]

Experiences of Umar Saif while working in Punjab Government

My year with the government
By Dr Umar SaifPublished: March 30, 2013
Moving back to Pakistan from MIT to work at LUMS was a difficult decision, but nothing compared with the decision to take up a position in the government during my sabbatical year from LUMS.

In my years in Pakistan, and while living abroad, ‘government’ in Pakistan embodied everything dysfunctional, corrupt and inefficient. In fact, the first time someone mentioned the prospect of a stint in the government a couple of years ago, my instinctive reaction was “God forbid”.

How did I end up taking the position of chairman of the Punjab Information Technology Board (PITB), heading all public sector IT projects in the province? It started with a call on my cell phone shortly after I received the MIT TR35 award, given to the top 35 young innovators in the world. “I am Shahbaz Sharif, chief minister of Punjab,” spoke the person on the other end of the phone. “I just heard about your brilliant work and the honour and prestige you have brought for Pakistan. I would like to meet and congratulate you in person.” A little startled, I hesitantly agreed.

A couple of months later, I was finally persuaded to accept a government position. The chief minister has a steely resolve and follows up relentlessly. In my one year with the government, I have received BBM messages from him from 2 am to 6 am and at all other times. What time he actually sleeps, I have not been able to figure out.

There are many things I learned during my time with the government. Above all, I am convinced that our system, largely a remnant of the Raj, is hurting more than helping. The structure of the government, rules of business, interfaces between institutions, funding and monitoring of projects, all need a serious revamp. There is a significant disconnect between the salary, workload and responsibility of the bureaucracy. Many functions of the government need to be spun off into organisations run by specialists from the private sector.

Repeated changes in government, followed by ruthless periods of accountability, has made everyone decision-shy. No one wants to associate with a project of any significance, because of fear of targeted accountability in case of an adversarial government change. Often successful careers are built by stopping or evading a project, rather than actively contributing to something that may become successful, and hence, prone to political opposition.

The political uncertainty erodes the writ of the government. Institutional reform inevitably takes many years of sustained effort and most dysfunctional organisations have simply learned to outlive abortive political regimes. I was tasked by the chief minister to help reform and automate the Boards of Intermediate and Secondary Education. While we successfully revamped the entire exam system in this last year, I have been told many times to my face that they are simply waiting for the government to change before they go back to their old habits.

My time with the government further reinforced my view that technology can indeed be a powerful enabler for reform. Even with a simple intervention like the use of smartphones for monitoring field workers, performance of government departments can be improved manifold. We coordinated the entire dengue campaign in Punjab with smartphones, used by more than 17 departments. The fieldworkers reported close to 45,000 geotagged activities to prevent the dengue epidemic in 2012. Through technology, we could track and record this stellar performance of the government.
There is a need to systematically build the capacity of second-tier political leadership. If democracy has to flourish in this country, politicians would need to be professionally more competent than both the civil and military bureaucracy. People like me would also hope that Pakistan may one day move from a constituency-based politics to one where national policy, governance and performance win elections. The volume and pace of development work in Punjab is a step in that direction.
As I look back at my year in the government, I have collected many bittersweet memories. The Metro Bus System was built in 11 months — so it can be done. Still, in my time in the government, I saw many projects delivered on unreal timelines. The set of bureaucrats and politicians that worked on key projects with the chief minister regularly worked 18-hour days, often up against onerous government processes and an unforgiving media glare. We did avert another dengue epidemic in 2012 and our smartphone-based monitoring framework is now becoming the de facto standard for monitoring in other government departments. The exam system of matriculation and intermediate students was successfully revamped. Through our anti-corruption citizen feedback model, we have reached over 1.3 million citizens and taken scores of punitive actions against reports of corruption. The Arfa Software Technology Park is now a successful enterprise, complete with one of the first full-service IT start-up incubators in Pakistan. Our IT university is up and running, with focus on research and entrepreneurship and promise to become the IIT of Pakistan.
Still, much needs to be done. We need to rethink and revamp the system, focus on governance and performance and hope for a stable, mature democratic set-up.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 31st, 2013.
My year with the government – The Express Tribune

 

[Bratva]

To name a few
1-Dr.Miftah Ismail was brought by SS to head punjab investment board
2-Umer saif was invited by SS to develop PITB
He had close interaction and was always in talent hunt. For example he had reached out to Dr.Asim Khawaja (current faculty in harvard university). Even Asad Umar had very good relationships with SS. 14 Ministries were held by himself because 1)Austerity 2)Lack of suitable candidates. He was the one who groomed Mr Kamran Michel by entrusting him with ministry of finance and now he heads off to national ministry. So suffice to say that he still needs good people to work in his team because 1) Some of his good team members are already taken away by NS 2)Our political system is still full with imperfections and would take time to correct itself.

I agree both persons done a good job, i often visit Arfa Kareem tech park, Dil khush ho jata hai. Why Miftah Ismail wasn't brought in to federal cabinet. ?

If you heard about a competition plane 9 incubator. Umer saif is heading this program and they are giving a platform to young entrepreneurs to launch their business ideas they gave during selection stage by funding them, giving them offices in Arfa karim tech park and funding them for 6 months, if they produce tangible results they would further fund them and would help them in expansion of their business

A group of friends selected in this competition

 

[SBD-3]

I agree both persons done a good job, I regularly visit PITB, Dil khush ho jata hai. Why Miftah Ismail wasn't brought in to federal cabinet. ?

Because that would have further shortened SS's team. Probably as the new members join his team, he may free Dr.Miftah for senate. But I am not sure, Because I suspect Miftah and Zubair would be working alongside Slaman Shahbaz in performance monitoring cell.

 

[Edevelop]

Interior minister of Pakistan Chaudry Nisar Ali Khan went to take his oath without any protocol. He drove the car himself and has shown austerity. Pakistan Muslim League (N) has made it very clear that the government would significantly reduce its expenditures.

 

[Jazzbot]

The ad is supposedly for Punjab, but 5 out of 6 buildings are of Lahore! Correct me if I am wrong here with those 2 towers.

And more interestingly both new buildings aren't projects of PML-N while rest of 4 are historic buildings. The IT tower aka Arfah Kareen Tower, was project of Mushy / Pervez Elahi..

Interior minister of Pakistan Chaudry Nisar Ali Khan went to take his oath without any protocol. He drove the car himself and has shown austerity. Pakistan Muslim League (N) has made it very clear that the government would significantly reduce its expenditures.

Masters of toppi drama..

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=581786128533364

Abi to bohat kuch karain ge ye cartoons, bara kuch karwae gi PTI inn se.. Lots of copy, paste gonna happen following foot steps of KPK govt.. This clown was opposition leader for five years, and retained all the protocol, never thought of this simplicity before?

 

[Edevelop]

Vigilance cell to be established for stopping corruption, theft in PR: Saad Rafique

ISLAMABAD, (SANA): Federal Minister for Railways Khawaja Muhammad Saad Rafique has warned the Railway officers to correct their direction. He said that written reply would be summoned from the concerned authorities in case of delay in arrival and departure of any train. He said that vigilance cell would be established for stopping corruption and theft in Pakistan Railways.

Talking to media after Railway briefing here on Saturday, Saad Rafique said that every possible measure will be taken to improve the performance of Pakistan Railways and maximum facilities would be provided to the commuters.

Khawaja Saad Rafique said that Pakistan Railways will be made a successful entity in accordance with the vision of Prime Minister Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif.

He said that steps will also be taken to overcome losses of the national institution. He said that people would be well-informed of the performance of Pakistan railways. No one would be allowed to repeat the past and every one would have to show performance.

He announced to restore Vigilance Cell in Railways for improving its performance and said that services of agencies and Army personnel will be hired for this purpose.

Saad Rafique said that there would be no favourite ones in the ministry and no decisions would be made on the basis of likes and dislikes, adding that steps would be taken in transparent manner.

Vigilance cell to be established for stopping corruption, theft in PR: Saad Rafique

 

[BATMAN]

I don't like the cabinet of PML-N, same old parasites.

Anyhow, some positive highlights: