Syed Ali Shah:
QUETTA: Opposition lawmaker Syed Zafar Agha, a member of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (F), alleged in the Balochistan Assembly that vehicles belonging to the Services and General Administration Department (S&GAD) were being misused in Karachi, with the department complicit in the matter. Speaking during a session addressing S&GAD issues, Zafar claimed that the department’s minister had not been briefed about its operations, leaving him unaware of critical departmental matters.
Mir Muhammad Sadiq Umrani, the Irrigation Minister and Parliamentary Leader of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) in the provincial assembly, endorsed Zafar’s claims. He staged a walkout to protest against the S&GAD Secretary and demanded immediate reforms in the department. Umrani also criticized the condition of official residences in Islamabad and departmental vehicles, labeling them “miserable.”
Despite treasury lawmakers attempting to dissuade him, Umrani persisted with his walkout. Meanwhile, Saleem Khan Khoso, Minister for the Communication and Works Department, defended the S&GAD Secretary, describing him as a competent officer and attributing criticism to “personal grievances” held by certain lawmakers.
Leader of the opposition in the House, Mir Younus Aziz Zehri, acknowledged departmental shortcomings but maintained that the secretary was a humble officer and not personally at fault. However, treasury and opposition members collectively urged improvements in the S&GAD’s performance to address ongoing concerns.
This development adds pressure on the Services and General Administration Department of Balochistan, spotlighting alleged inefficiencies and misuse of government resources. There was no offiical response from the S&GAD in this regard.
