Punjab abolishes 10,898 vacant health, population posts

The Punjab Finance Department has issued a notification abolishing 10,898 vacant posts from grade 1 to 16 in the Health and Population Department as part of a reorganisation and cost-cutting measure, reported 24NewsHD TV channel Sunday.

According to the notification, the abolished posts include permanent and temporary positions that had remained vacant and inactive for a long time.

The Services and General Administration Department has also placed 180 officers of the former Population Welfare Department in the surplus pool.

The government has approved the creation of 6,629 new posts in the surplus pool.

The Population Welfare Department was merged with the Health Department in March 2025 under the provincial government’s austerity policy.

A spokesperson said the abolished posts were already inactive and no officer or official was performing duties against them.

The spokesperson said the decision was aimed at making the government structure more efficient and reducing Punjab government expenditure.

The move will not affect any active employee, the spokesperson said.

Officials said population welfare services would continue uninterrupted through the Health Department under new initiatives.

They said trained health professionals and workers would continue to provide all population-related services.

The abolished posts do not belong to existing working posts or the cadre of officers of the Health and Population Welfare Department, officials said.

The department said the decision would not affect public services or departmental performance and was part of administrative reorganisation and financial discipline.

 Reporter: Samra Fatima