Punjab to merge departments for faster governance

Punjab Finance Minister Advocate Harpal Singh Cheema announced today that the Finance Department is actively engaged in a strategic initiative to merge various small and interconnected state government departments to significantly boost efficiency, accelerate administrative processes, and optimize the utilization of available resources.

Lauding the Punjab Cabinet Decision to merge Various Directorates under the Department of Finance, Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema said that the move is aimed at significantly enhancing administrative efficiency and achieving substantial cost savings for the state. He said this strategic restructuring is projected to save the state approximately ₹2.64 crore annually. He said that these mergers will not only streamline operations but also improve the overall functioning and strength of these vital departments. This restructuring is a key step towards a more agile and fiscally responsible administration, he added.

Adding further, Finance Minister Cheema said that the Finance Department has been working on comprehensive restructuring and merger of other such state government departments to streamline government operations, reduce redundancies, and foster a more cohesive and responsive administrative framework. “By bringing together departments with overlapping functions or shared objectives, the Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann led Punjab government anticipates a notable increase in the speed of decision-making and implementation, ultimately benefiting the citizens of Punjab through more effective and accountable public services”, said the Finance Minister.

It is worth noting that the Punjab Cabinet has approved the merger of several directorates under the Department of Finance, aiming to enhance administrative efficiency and reduce costs. The merged entities will include the Directorate of Small Savings, Banking, and Lotteries; the Directorate of Financial Resources and Economic Intelligence (DFREI) and Department of Public Enterprise (DPED); and the Directorate of Treasury & Accounts, Pension, and NPS. This consolidation is expected to yield significant benefits in terms of streamlined operations and improved governance.