Key Takeaways
- Balochistan has only one federal secretary across 38 government divisions.
- The province's share of senior federal officers is just 3.5 percent.
- Provincial representation and ownership of natural resources are under scrutiny.
Balochistan faces significant underrepresentation in senior federal government positions, according to figures presented to the Senate Standing Committee on Devolution. The province has only one federal secretary across 38 government divisions, while its share of senior federal officers stands at just 3.5 percent.
The provincial quota for federal services was set at 4.5 percent in 1973 and increased to 6 percent in 2020 by former Prime Minister Imran Khan. However, official figures show that Balochistan continues to fall short of that target in federal employment.
A total of 31,235 employees holding Balochistan domicile work in federal government positions from grades 1 to 16, accounting for 5.2 percent of employees in these grades, below the province’s 6 percent quota. The gap is wider among senior officers, with 1,287 officers in grades 17 to 22, representing approximately 3.5 percent of the total.
The Senate committee has raised concerns over the federal government’s implementation of constitutional provisions governing provincial representation and ownership of natural resources. Article 172(3) of the Constitution provides for joint and equal ownership of mineral oil and natural gas between the federal and provincial governments in the province where the resources are located.
The committee has also called for provincial quotas to be enforced in promotions to senior federal positions, arguing that the government must ensure provinces receive their due representation. This move is seen as a step towards addressing the imbalance in federal employment and ensuring that all provinces are adequately represented in senior roles.
The issue of underrepresentation in senior federal jobs is not unique to Balochistan. However, the province's struggle highlights the broader challenge of ensuring equitable representation across all provinces in the federal government. The committee's findings underscore the need for urgent action to address this long-standing issue.
