Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has ordered a comprehensive performance review of all federal ministries and divisions, a move widely seen as the first step toward a possible cabinet reshuffle. The review follows recent public remarks by Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi regarding the government’s overall performance, which intensified discussions about ministerial accountability.
Why Has the Government Ordered This Performance Review Now?
According to official directives, the Prime Minister’s Office has initiated an internal accountability exercise to assess the performance of ministries from February 2024 to the present. The objective is to evaluate governance, policy implementation, administrative efficiency, and public service delivery across the federal government.
Which Ministries Will Be Evaluated?
The review will cover virtually the entire federal administration, including:
- 18 ministries dealing with economic and financial affairs.
- 14 ministries responsible for law, security, and administrative matters.
- 9 ministries overseeing social sectors such as health and education.
What Information Have Ministries Been Asked to Submit?
Each ministry has been directed to provide detailed performance reports, including:
- Achievements against core mandates.
- Governance and institutional reforms.
- Completed projects with measurable outcomes.
- Progress on policy objectives.
- Administrative and cost-saving initiatives.
- Public service delivery improvements.
How Will Pending Projects Be Assessed?
The PM Office has instructed ministries to explain:
- Reasons behind delayed projects.
- Implementation challenges.
- Corrective measures taken.
- Expected timelines for completion.
The review aims to identify operational bottlenecks and improve execution across government departments.
Will Ministries Need to Prove Their Performance Claims?
Yes. Ministries have been instructed to support every claim with documentary evidence or other verifiable records. The Prime Minister’s Office has made it clear that unsupported or incomplete submissions will not be accepted.
What Will the Government Examine Beyond Ministry Performance?
The review will also assess:
- Utilisation of development funds.
- Performance of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) Authority.
- Progress of the Annual Development Programme (ADP).
- Impact of economic policies.
- Improvements in the national census and statistical system.
- Public-private partnership initiatives.
- Special programmes managed by the Prime Minister’s Office.
Could the Review Lead to Changes in the Federal Cabinet?
Government sources indicate that the findings will serve as the basis for decisions on ministerial performance and may result in changes to the federal cabinet. The evaluation is also expected to guide broader governance reforms and administrative efficiency measures aimed at improving government performance.