Islamabad, April 17, 2025 – In a major step towards administrative reform, the government of Pakistan has abolished approximately 31,000 jobs across various federal departments as part of an ongoing rightsizing initiative.
The move, which aims to streamline government operations and reduce unnecessary expenditures, was formally presented to the Senate Standing Committee on Finance and Revenue by the Secretary of the Cabinet Division.
The Cabinet Secretary shared detailed statistics, revealing that 7,724 posts have been declared as “dying posts” and will be eliminated in due course. A significant number of the abolished jobs, precisely 7,305, fall under Scale-I, reflecting the government’s focus on trimming down non-essential, lower-tier positions. Higher-grade posts have also been impacted, including 36 from Grade-20 and 99 from Grade-19, while just two senior positions in Grades 21-22 are marked for removal.
The secretary explained that the rightsizing plan follows directives from Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who emphasized a leaner federal government structure with a focus on core responsibilities. “The goal is to improve efficiency by transferring non-essential functions to provincial governments, while keeping the federal structure focused and accountable,” he said.
The government has also begun a review of all commercial ventures run by federal ministries, questioning their necessity and long-term value. Regulatory authorities, though not directly impacted by the rightsizing measures, have been asked to provide detailed data on staffing levels, consultants, and salary structures to ensure transparency and to assess their operational efficiency.
However, the sweeping changes have raised concerns. Senator Sherry Rehman criticized the government’s contradictory approach, stating, “On one hand, you’re abolishing jobs to save costs, and on the other, you’ve doubled the federal cabinet. What signal does that send?”
Rehman also highlighted the human cost of the rightsizing plan. “What happens to employees pushed into early retirement or redundancy? The government must consider the impact on livelihoods,” she added.
In response, the Cabinet Secretary maintained that the elimination of redundant jobs was essential to long-term fiscal stability. “This move is projected to yield substantial savings and enhance service delivery by eliminating overlaps,” he noted.
The performance of the Rightsizing Committee is under constant review, and further changes may be proposed after departmental evaluations. As the reforms continue, the government aims to strike a balance between fiscal prudence and protecting the livelihoods tied to public sector jobs.