Information Technology (IT) is one of the key sources for developing a country. Whilst fast developing countries are investing further in the field of IT to facilitate the masses, betterment of the country and to compete with the world, the situation in Sindh is completely different. The Sindh government is reluctant to facilitate employees of IT, even though Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have already facilitated their IT employees by upgrading isolated posts and given them awarding time scales in 2016 and 2018, respectively. However, Sindh is the only province where the IT employees have been protesting for their legitimate demands for years.
With the passage of time, and going the extra mile, the Information Technology Employees Association [ITEA], an organisation working for IT employees, has succeeded in getting an approval from the Finance department, Law department and the Sindh government. Because of the approval the ITEA has completed all codal formalities to upgrade the isolated posts of computer operator, data processing assistant and data processing officer to a higher grade. A file containing all the paperwork of upgradation was put forward in a cabinet meeting, which was held in the month of April of 2019. The cabinet meeting despite upgrading the isolated posts, decided to constitute a five-member committee comprising of Dr Azra Fazal Pechuho, Provincial Minister of Health, Syed Sardar Ali Shah, Minister of Cultural and Tourism, Taimoor Talpur, Information Technology minister and Finance and Information Sindh secretaries, to review the upgradation file once again and submit their report within one month. Although every formality for upgradation was dully finalised, the committee did not bother to hold a meeting to review the upgradation file even after the passage of four months. This is termed as sheer injustice with the Sindh IT employees because the other provinces had already facilitated their employees.
In order to hold a meeting regarding upgradation, the Sindh chief secretary, on the directives of the Sindh Chief Minister for expediting the matter, has also issued an official letter to constitute a committee to review and finalise its report.
