Punjab to scrap thousands of vacant government posts amid fiscal pressure

By Sadia Khan :

The Punjab government has approved the abolition of nearly 150,000 vacant posts across departments as part of efforts to reduce financial strain ahead of the next budget.

Officials said implementation has already begun, with instructions issued not to allocate funds for these positions in the 2026–27 fiscal plan. The move primarily affects posts from Grade 1 to 16 that have remained unfilled for several years.

The largest number of cuts has been made in the education sector, where more than 30,000 positions, including teaching and support staff roles, have been eliminated through a notification issued by the provincial finance department.

Authorities said these posts, which included teachers as well as administrative and support staff, had remained vacant for the past three years and were contributing to unnecessary expenditure. A second phase is expected to see a further 30,000 teaching positions removed in the coming weeks.

Additional reductions have also been carried out in other departments, including the prosecution, agriculture, forestry, irrigation and housing sectors, where thousands of unfilled roles have been scrapped as part of a broader restructuring effort.

Officials described the decision as a cost-cutting measure aimed at easing pressure on the provincial exchequer, with sources indicating that up to 100,000 more vacant posts could be eliminated before the end of June.

The move has drawn criticism from employee groups and teachers’ organisations, which say the decision will limit employment opportunities and affect the functioning of public services, particularly in the education sector.

Union representatives have warned of protests, arguing that the government should focus on recruitment rather than reducing posts, especially after several years without new hiring in many departments.

Despite the criticism, authorities maintain that the reforms are necessary to stabilise public finances and streamline government operations.

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