With many local officials now holding key administrative posts in Gilgit-Baltistan, local officials feel “left behind” after seeing violations of the vacancy sharing scheme with the centre.
In an interesting development, a group of local civil servants have emerged and expressed concern that they are not being given their rightful place in the GB administrative ranks. Most of them are maintained/occupied by people sent from the center or other states.
The Gilgit-Baltistan Civil Service Association (GBCSA), a body representing local civil servants, sent a petition to British Prime Minister Mohammad Khalid Khurshid to “remove the discrimination clause from the British Executive Act”. This provision reserves the monopoly of federal officers to the posts of Chief Minister (Development), Home Secretary and Treasury Secretary, which is unprecedented in any other state.
The GBCSA claims that a number of officers from outside Gilgit-Baltistan are occupying key management posts against the scheme of sharing vacancies with the Centre. This causes discrimination and frustration. They feel restricted in remote areas where opportunities for advancement and exposure are limited.
According to the GBCSA, Down Country officers have at least seven posts of Deputy Commissioner (PAS Officer/BS-17), three posts of Deputy Commissioner (BS-18) and one post of Commissioner (BS-19/20). Exclude local officials from such a situation. Out of 10 districts in Gilgit-Baltistan, only two deputy commissioners of local administrations are based at headquarters and eight headquarters places are occupied by federal employees. Additionally, 11 of the 23 subdivisions are occupied by federal employees.
GBCSA also provides vacancies for active field posts of Divisional Deputy/Assistant Education Commissioner, District Deputy Commissioner in the placement of PAS and DMS Officers in BS-17, 18, and 19/20. We requested that the ratio should be ensured.
