SGA&CD directs all departments to strictly enforce office timings
Sindh Orders Govt Employees to Strictly Follow Official Work Timings
The Sindh government has issued strict new directives to enforce punctuality across all provincial departments after repeated violations of official working hours, particularly delays in officers arriving at their offices.
Officials say the lack of discipline has been directly affecting public service delivery, prompting authorities to push for immediate corrective measures.
What Has the Government Ordered?
All government officers have been instructed to ensure mandatory attendance at 9:00 a.m. sharp, with no exceptions.
Departments have been told to monitor arrivals, record attendance, and maintain discipline across all administrative units.
Where Will These Orders Apply?
The directive applies to all provincial government departments under the Sindh Services, General Administration, and Coordination Department (SGA&CD).
This includes:
- Secretariat offices
- Field administration units
- Attached departments
- Subordinate offices across districts
When Were the Directives Issued?
The new instructions were circulated this week following internal reviews highlighting chronic delays among officers.
New compliance monitoring will begin immediately, with departments expected to report attendance discipline weekly.
Why Has the Sindh Govt Taken This Step?
According to officials:
- Delayed arrival of officers has been disrupting workflow
- Public visiting offices early in the morning face slow service and long waits
- The overall performance of several departments has suffered due to weak time discipline
Authorities assert that punctuality is essential for efficient governance.
How Will the Enforcement Work?
- Departments will maintain daily attendance logs
- Officers failing to comply may face administrative action
- Surprise inspections may be conducted to verify compliance
- Performance evaluations may include punctuality as a criterion
Rana Sanaullah’s Reaction
Senior PML-N leader Rana Sanaullah, commenting on Sindh’s move during a TV appearance, said discipline in government offices is necessary but questioned whether the measure was “substantive reform or mere optics.”
He remarked:
“Such directives are issued every few months. The real test is implementation. If officers still stroll in after 10 AM, then this is just paperwork. The public wants actual service delivery, not circulars.”
He urged the Sindh government to pair the punctuality drive with:
- performance audits,
- public feedback mechanisms, and
- penalties for habitual violators.
Critical Analysis
1. Longstanding Culture of Delayed Attendance
Analysts note that late arrivals are not new — they are a systemic problem across provincial departments. Past attempts at enforcing punctuality have had limited results due to weak monitoring.
2. Enforcement Remains the Key Challenge
While directives are clear, the government must ensure:
- biometric attendance systems are functional,
- senior officers are held accountable, and
- district-level offices follow the same discipline as secretariat units.
3. Public Expectations
Citizens often arrive early to get paperwork processed. Their experience will determine whether this initiative actually improves service delivery.
4. Political Optics vs Administrative Reform Some experts believe the move comes as part of a broader attempt to project administrative control. Real change will require consistent enforcement, not just memos.