Is cabinet rightsizing a right decision?

The rightsizing of the cabinet was considered very timely decision as it would decrease burden on the national exchequer.

In compliance with the provisions of the 18th Amendment and cutting down expenditures, the government decided to minimise the cabinet size and vowed to take all political parties on board.

The government was under pressure from the opposition parties to remove corrupt ministers and introduce reforms. As per the requirement of the18th Amendment the total strength of the cabinet should not be larger than 11 percent of the parliament members, which means maximum 49 members. After the adoption of the 18th Amendment, several ministries have been transferred to the provinces. The Ministry for Local Government and Rural Development, Ministry of Youth Affairs, Ministry of Zakat and Ushr, Ministry for Population Welfare and Ministry for Special Affairs were the five federal ministries that had already been transferred to the provinces last year. Five more ministries will be devolved in the second phase while eight more ministries will either be handed over to the provinces in the third phase or merged with other divisions.

The opposition parties were demanding of the government to introduce economic reforms and meet International Monetary Fund (IMF) targets agreed in a 2008 bailout package. In addition to this, PML-N leader Nawaz Sharif had given a 45-day time deadline to implement key reforms or face having the PPP ministers kicked out of the Punjab government and a call for early elections.
The 90-member cabinet was really a burden on the national exchequer. Out of this strength 40 were full ministers, 18 ministers of state, 30 parliamentary secretaries and two advisers. Regarding the expenditure incurred on them it is a fact that a federal minister costs to the government about Rs 30 lakh per month, comprising salary, huge perks like house rent, medical expenses, phone bills, travelling expenses, cars, fuel and maintenances.

After the 2008 general elections, PPP, PML-N, MQM, ANP and JUI-F set up coalition government at centre. However, the PML-N left the federal cabinet on May 12, 2008, and the cabinet was extended on November 3, 2008, with 40 more ministers took oath and strength of the cabinet reached 55. The JUI-F withdrew its ministers fro the federal government on December 14, 2010, and resigned from four ministries. Later the MQM also said goodbye to the cabinet. There was a loud voice against the corrupt practices of some ministers. Keeping in view this fact, some international donor organisations stopped funding projects in Sindh.

Our economy is in the doldrums, especially after the devastation caused by floods last year. Now that the IMF tranche hangs in the balance on the issue of the Revised General Sales Tax, another financial crisis is on the cards. The rightsizing of the cabinet was considered very timely decision as it would decrease burden on the national exchequer. The small cabinet would save three to four billion rupees annually. It is hoped that the inclusion of ministers in the new cabinet will be made on the basis of their past performance.

After great difficulty, the first batch of 22 ministers was sworn in on February 11. Out of these newly-inducted ministers, 18 were members of the previous cabinet. The formation of the new cabinet was a test case for the prime minister. Almost all the ministers tried to force the PM to give them their desired and old portfolios. In this regard the case of Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi proved to be a test case for the government. He refused to accept any other ministry except foreign ministry. With this a fresh tussle emerged which has links with the US consulate employee’s case. He opposed to granting immunity to Raymond Davis in accordance with the Geneva Convention.

For attaining the real objective of righsizing the cabinet, it is necessary that the government words should match its deeds. This is a good step and no corrupt ministers should be included in the new set-up. At the same time, the government should ensure cutting down its other expenditures. Merely downsizing the cabinet will not pay any dividend.