Almost 150,000 positions were eliminated across the province; 30,000 training positions have already been abolished
RAWALPINDI:
Amid an acute financial and economic crisis in Punjab, the provincial government has given final approval to abolish nearly 150,000 vacancies ranging from class 1 to 16 across all departments.
Implementation has begun and all such positions will be eliminated by the 2026-2027 budget, with directives issued not to allocate funds for these positions in the upcoming fiscal plan.
The largest share of the cuts has been imposed on the education sector, where 30,391 positions (grades 1-16) have been cut. The Punjab Finance Department has formally issued a notification in this regard.
The eliminated positions include primary, middle and high school teachers as well as non-teaching staff such as watchmen, helpers, naib-qasids, clerks and assistants. These positions, spread across schools and education offices across the province, had been vacant for the past three years.
In a second phase, a further 30,000 teaching positions are expected to be cut later this month. According to the announcement, the removal of 30,391 positions is to reduce the financial burden on the provincial tax.
In addition, 221 posts have been abolished in the Punjab Prosecution Service and its affiliated institutions. The Finance Department has also issued vacancy notices across five departments, including positions such as security guards, drivers, clerks, assistants, cashiers and accountants.
Teachers’ organizations have strongly condemned the decision and announced protests. Leaders, including Dr. Sagheer Alam, Rana Liaqat, Shafiq Bhalowalia and Chaudhry Shahzad, described the move as “oppressive” and stated that the government is depriving people of employment instead of creating jobs.
Noting that no new recruitment has taken place over the past four years, they warned that the decision would adversely affect the functioning of schools and government offices.
The All Pakistan Clerks Association has also criticized the move. Its central vice-president Shahzad Kiani and divisional president Chaudhry Mubashir warned that without strong opposition, up to 80% of government jobs could be eliminated, alleging the education and health systems are being undermined.
They have demanded an immediate reversal of the decision and the initiation of new recruitment.
Sources further indicate that another 100,000 posts may be cut in Punjab by June 30.
Large-scale scrapping continues
Meanwhile, the process of abolishing permanent posts continues across government departments in Punjab, with several notifications issued for elimination of long-vacant posts.
The Special Education Department has eliminated 244 positions, the Board of Agriculture has eliminated 5,199 positions, the Forestry Agency has eliminated 753 positions, the Housing and Physical Planning Department has eliminated 727 positions, and the Irrigation Department has eliminated 1,041 positions.
