Editorial:Â
The revelation that 428 government employees in Balochistan were illegally holding dual jobs has exposed a serious governance flaw. Chief Minister Mir Sarfaraz Bugti’s decision to take strict action, including filing FIRs under the Balochistan Employees Disciplinary Act (BEDA), is a necessary step to restore integrity in the system. However, this issue is only the tip of the iceberg.
Thousands of Vacancies, Yet Unemployment Persists
While hundreds of employees have been found violating employment rules, thousands of vacancies remain unfilled across various departments. Instead of allowing a select few to exploit the system, the government must focus on recruiting qualified, unemployed youth to fill these positions. Merit-based appointments would not only strengthen governance but also provide much-needed economic relief to jobless individuals.
Accountability in Public Service
CM Bugti has rightly emphasized that government jobs are a responsibility, not an entitlement. The inefficiency of public servants directly impacts governance, fueling public distrust and, as the CM pointed out, even contributing to security challenges. The introduction of digital monitoring for officials is a welcome move, ensuring that salaries paid by taxpayers are justified by actual work.
Time for Meaningful Reforms
To prevent such governance failures in the future, the government must enforce strict hiring policies and ensure transparency in recruitment. Dual jobholders should not only face legal consequences but also be replaced by deserving candidates through a fair selection process. Only then can the administration truly serve the people and justify the resources allocated to it.
Filling vacancies, ensuring merit-based recruitment, and holding employees accountable must be top priorities. A government that ignores these issues risks not only economic stagnation but also eroding public confidence in state institutions.
