ISLAMABAD – The Association of Administrative Reforms Pakistan (AARP), through its administrator Tariq Mahmood Awan, has urged the Punjab Chief Minister to consider abolishing the position of Chief Secretary, arguing that the role is redundant and conflicts with the authority of the Chief Minister. In a formal letter addressed to the Chief Minister, Tariq Awan emphasized that the Chief Secretary position is not a constitutional office but rather an administrative post established under the Provincial Civil Servants Act of 1974. Citing Article 240(b) of the Constitution, the letter points out that provincial governments hold exclusive legislative, executive, and financial authority over such posts. Furthermore, the Chief Minister’s office, as per Article 130 of the Constitution, is constitutionally established and is the recognized executive head of the province. “This begs the question: why is it necessary for provincial governments to retain a position that directly conflicts with the authority of the Chief Minister?” Tariq Awan questioned, advocating for either the abolition or restructuring of the Chief Secretary’s office to ensure it supports rather than impedes the Chief Minister’s governance. The letter traces the historical context of the Chief Secretary’s role back to colonial India, where it was established under British rule to oversee provincial administration. With the colonial structure dismantled post-Independence, Tariq Awan argues that the persistence of this role in the modern administrative framework lacks constitutional legitimacy and continues to hinder the efficiency of provincial governance. The 18th Amendment, which decentralized significant powers to the provinces, is noted in the letter, but Tariq Awan criticizes that the colonial practice of reserving provincial posts for central services has continued. He argues that this not only undermines provincial autonomy but also creates unnecessary bureaucratic delays and inefficiencies. Tariq Awan also highlights the incongruity between the role of the Chief Secretary and the principles of cabinet governance, stating that routing official business through the Chief Secretary’s office has led to delays, backlogs, and additional costs. He points out that the federal government does not maintain an equivalent position, thus ensuring smoother conduct of official business at the federal level. Concluding the letter, the AARP calls for necessary amendments to divest the powers of the Chief Secretary and, if the position is not abolished, to at least reconfigure its responsibilities to better align with the democratic governance structure. The letter suggests that an exclusive minister for the Department of Services and General Administration could take over some of the current responsibilities of the Chief Secretary. The AARP has offered to present a more detailed analysis and recommendations to the provincial government if required.