Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi Saturday questioned the performance evaluation criteria of federal ministries.
The foreign minister wrote a letter to Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Shehzad Arbab, expressing grave concern over giving the foreign ministry 11th place in the performance evaluation.
He said the foreign ministry had met 22 of the 26 targets and 18 of the 24 targets set out in the performance agreement, adding that his ministry had also carried out high-level initiatives.
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs raises concerns about the grading system. It should be made clear whatever system was used to grade ministries,” wrote Qureshi in a letter adding that no issues were raised concerning the ministry’s work.
Special Assistant to Prime Minister Shehzad Arbab Saturday took to Twitter to respond to the objections.
“I am glad that the Performance Agreements have generated a debate and discussion on targets, completion of tasks and accountability for public sector institutions,” he wrote.
“While politics, and the larger political economy contexts ultimately plays a part in how well received reforms and related successes are- especially what kind of narratives are built around it through various mediums,” he added.
“The underlying theme is that for the first time ever in Pakistan, people are now talking about properly planned, monitored and executed public sector reforms. The process will evolve, people will understand it better in time, institutions will adept to it better and champions will emerge, some of whom we saw. Reform is never easy and is never meant to be absorbed and welcomed by all but it is necessary,” he added.
“Performance Agreements are also about how well public sector institutions adept to target oriented and performance based systems and the sustainability will ensure that the people of Pakistan benefit from an efficient public sector,” he concluded.
Earlier on Thursday, the PM had awarded ten ministers with appreciation certificates for their outstanding performance.
Those who received the certificates from the PM included Minister for Communications Murad Saeed, Minister for Planning and Development Asad Umar, Special Assistant on Poverty Alleviation Sania Nishtar, Minister for Education Shafqat Mahmood, Minister for Human Rights Shireen Mazari, Minister for Industries and Production Khusro Bakhtiyar, Advisor on National Security Division Dr Moeed Yusuf, Adviser on Commerce Razak Dawood, Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed, and Minister for National Food Security Fakhar Imam.
