Tag: government offices

  • Pink toilets to be established across South Punjab

    Pink toilets to be established across South Punjab

    Pink toilets, a project to be implemented in public spaces in Bahawalpur along the highways, has now expanded to government offices across South Punjab.

    In the last leg of the project, 433 toilets are to be constructed in government offices throughout the region. They are designed specifically for working and visiting women-a major step towards promotion of gender equality and facilitation of women.

    The initiative commenced at the South Punjab Secretariat under the guidance of Additional Chief Secretary South Punjab, Captain (R) Saqib Zafar.

    The foundation was laid by the Secretary Services South Punjab, Engineer Amjad Shoaib Khan Tareen. He, while addressing the ceremony, informed the attendees about a survey that has been carried out to identify optimal locations for these facilities. The administration of all three divisions have been asked to complete the project by November 9.

    He stated that the project is proof of determination of the management towards the cause of ensuring the well being of women. It also signifies the commitment to the purpose of creating an inclusive and accommodating environment for the female workforce.

  • Saudi Arabia announces new rules for pilgrims in Makkah, Madina

    Saudi Arabia announces new rules for pilgrims in Makkah, Madina

    Saudi Arabia has announced new rules for pilgrims. Whether they are coming from inside the Kingdom or from other countries, pilgrims have been seen using mobiles during the call of prayer (Azan). Saudi Arabia has warned the public against playing or turning up the volume of music inside residential areas during Azan and Iqamah (the first and second calls to prayer, respectively), saying it is punishable by law.

    “Anyone who is caught playing ‘music’ of any kind during the call of prayer from mosques will now be fined SAR 1000 (Rs46,730) for a first-time violation and if violation repeats SAR 2000 (Rs93,461) will be charged,” announced the Twitter account of Haramain Sharifain.

    The Saudi Arabian government has also introduced a new fine ranging from SAR 250 to SAR 500 for anyone wearing shorts inside mosques or government offices.

    However, the government has clarified that men wearing shorts in public won’t be considered a violation of public decorum, except in mosques.

    Earlier, Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Hajj and Umrah issued new guidelines for Umrah pilgrims. All pilgrims will have to get the status of their vaccination checked six hours before performing Umrah.

    It made negative PCR test reports compulsory for pilgrims. The test should be taken no more than 48 hours before arrival even if they are vaccinated.

    There were 19 violations on the list of public etiquette violations approved in 2019. With the new decision, the list of public etiquette violations now stands at 20.

  • Govt gives three housing units each to 19 bureaucrats

    Govt gives three housing units each to 19 bureaucrats

    A total of 19 bureaucrats of grade BS-22 secured three housing units each, including Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Establishment Shehzad Arbab.

    According to the papers obtained by Dawn, the officers had already been allotted a double-story “grey structures” house each in the Pakistan Housing Authority Foundation (PHAF) scheme.

    The PHAF traditionally built low-cost housing schemes for its members and this was the first time that it introduced a scheme for senior bureaucrats.

    Previously, former prime minister Nawaz Sharif had cancelled the allotment of “choice” apartments to influential bureaucrats in the same locality [PHAF] and ordered an investigation into the manipulated balloting carried out by the housing scheme.

    Not only this, the official documents say that 185 of the 588 bureaucrats right after this allotment were allotted plots in the capital’s new sectors of F-14 and F-15.

    Following this, the Federal Government Employees Housing Authority (FGEHA) recently allotted two plots each to senior bureaucrats, judges of superior courts, lawyers, and judicial officers of Islamabad’s subordinate judiciary.

    Earlier, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) ruled against the allotment of more than one plot to top bureaucrats at public expense under Article 25 of the Pakistan Constitution and then set aside the policy of allotment of the second plot and referred the matter to the federal cabinet.

    While talking to Dawn, Federal Minister for Law and Justice Barrister Farogh Naseem said the allotments would be examined in light of the IHC judgment. Federal information minister Fawad Chaudhry said, “The government is working on the issue in the light of the IHC directive and has formed a committee as well.”

    Initially, civil servants were entitled to one plot each only. However, in 2006, the then prime minister allowed two plots each for BS-22 officials.

    However, an insider said the policy to make such allotments had never been approved by the federal government.

  • Govt offices: Punjab bans WhatsApp

    Punjab government has banned any action leading to or resulting in the sharing of official documents through WhatsApp by government offices over the risk of confidential information being potentially leaked to irrelevant persons.

    According to a notification issued on February 14, the order of banning WhatsApp use has been issued by the Services and General Administration Department (S&GAD) in light of a decision taken in a meeting of the Cabinet Division on January 31.

    With regard to the orders, the Punjab commissioner of Overseas Pakistanis Commission, the Punjab Government Servants Housing Foundation MD, the Anti-Corruption DG and Punjab Procurement Regularity Authority MD have been sent a letter. Moreover, all section officers, law officers and state officers have also been informed about the orders, according to which, the ban will be implemented immediately.

    The provincial authorities had earlier received complaints that authorities in government departments were using WhatsApp to execute day-to-day matters pertaining to office work as documents were being exchanged on the messaging service. WhatsApp groups had been formed for this purpose and documents were reportedly being leaked.

    According to The Express Tribune, as per the new SOPs, official files will be delivered to the department concerned following the customary practice. Keeping in view the situation, an old procedure will be followed in government offices and SOPs will be followed accordingly.