The shifting of officers to the South Punjab Secretariat has become a dilemma for the provincial government as no one is willing to be appointed there, reported 24NewsHD TV channel on Friday.

According to the TV channel, the officers are not ready to work in South Punjab Secretariat.

As a counter-measure, the Finance Department has hinted at blocking the salaries of such officers who will not join the South Punjab Secretariat.

There were also reports that in order to establish the South Punjab Secretariat the Punjab Chief Secretary Punjab has sent a revised document to the Chief Minister for approval.

After the necessary amendments in the Rules of Business for 2011, out of 16 proposed departments for the South Punjab Secretariat, 13 departments will become fully operational. The work will begin after the appointment of heads in the Board of Revenue and the law department.

This was disclosed in the first meeting of the cabinet committee on South Punjab chaired by Punjab Finance Minister Makhdoom Hashim Javan Bakht in the Civil Secretariat.

Additional Chief Secretary South Punjab Zahid Zaman informed the meeting that the services of the Information Technology Board are being taken for procurement of IT related equipment in all the departments. Apart from the appointment of section officers, deputy secretaries and secretary finance for various departments, the additional chief secretary South Punjab also made recommendations for approval of new recruitments and exemption from the restrictions of the economy committee for procurement of vehicles for the secretariat.

The Additional IG South Punjab informed the meeting that the Additional IG Office South Punjab has started providing services. The department is facing difficulties in communicating with the public due to the unavailability of suitable offices.

The provincial minister directed the additional chief secretary to give a final timeline to the South Punjab Secretariat for the transfer of officers.