ECP bans recruitment for government jobs

ISLAMABAD: Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has put a temporary ban on hirings by public institutions in light of the upcoming general elections. 

According to the statement issued on Wednesday, there will be a hiring freeze in appointments made by federal, provincial and local governments.

The ECP remarked that all the authorities concerned have been made aware of the hiring freeze. The step seeks to ensure the transparency of the upcoming general elections, the statement added. 

However, there will be no ban on the hirings by federal and provincial public service commissions. 

Moreover, the implementation of all the development schemes, which have been taken after April 1, will also be put to a halt. The development schemes include those pertaining to the supply of gas and water, construction and carpeting of roads.

This step has been taken to ensure that the funds released for ongoing development projects are not used for other schemes, the statement said. 

Keeping in view past practices, the commission has also banned the transfer of previously allocated development funds to other heads

On April 2, the ECP had barred public office-holders from using public money to promote themselves ahead of the elections.

The ECP had sent to the provincial chief secretaries letters pointing out that the commission was busy with preparations for the upcoming elections and various stakeholders had reported that several public officeholders, including ministers, members of the national and provincial assemblies and party leaders, were announcing development schemes and fixing inaugural plaques under their names to woo voters ahead of the general elections.

“Understandably development schemes such as hospitals, schools, roads, tube wells, etc, are executed through public money, therefore self-projection through public exchequer is by no means acceptable,” the letter said.