The Pakistani Spectator

Providing jobs is one of the main responsibility of the government, but before that creating such opportunities is a must. When the economy is at knees and when the private sector has become crippled and the financial markets are crumbling and the deficits are gaping from every nook and when there is shortage of everything, blind decisions like re-hiring of ten year old sacked employees and lifting ban on hiring makes no sense at all.

Just days ago the federal cabinet approved a plan to reinstate more than 7,000 government employees sacked between November 1996 and December 1999. Even some of the more informed cabinet ministers raised objections as they knew that the national exchequer was empty and it might render some political benefit to the government but would increase the weight on economy considerably.

Now once again the Prime Minister has put the cabinet in shock by another absurd and hasty decision without any consultation. Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has ordered of lifting ban on all recruitments on yesterday. PM Gilani has directed the ministries and departments to start recruitments according to set procedures. Ministry of Finance has already told PM that there are no funds whatsoever for that.

Perhaps Gilani is trying to assert his role and his authority. But he must not do it at the expense of national economy. It would also backfire to him as people would blast him if the public sector just refuses to hire any further due to lack of funds.