Srinagar, Mar 12: Education Minister Syed Mohammed Altaf Bukhari was given additional charge of the Finance, Labout and Employment ministry today, a day after Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti axed Haseeb Drabu from the post over his remark that Kashmir was not a political issue.
“In pursuance of Rule 5 of the Jammu and Kashmir Government Business Rules and as an interim measure, I, Mehbooba Mufti, Chief Minister, Jammu and Kashmir, do here by assign the charge of the Departments of Finance, Labour &Employment to Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari in addition to the Government Business already assigned to him,” said an order issued by the Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti here today.
The order has been issued is in partial modification of Order No: 427-GAD of 2018 dated: 12.03.2018 wherein the charge of the Finance, Labour & Employment departments was assigned to the Chief Minister.
Up till now, Altaf Bukhari was heading Education Ministry, including School and Higher education departments. Bukhari headed R&B ministry during the tenure of Late Mufti Mohammad Sayeed as the Chief Minister of present coalition government.
An agriculture graduate, Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari represents Amira Kadal constituency of Srinagar, in the State Legislative Assembly.
Meanwhile, after taking over the additional charge of Finance ministry, Altaf Bukhari on Tuesday ordered the deferment of Pay and Accounts Office (PAO) system till March-end.
“The implementation of Pay & Accounts Office System, rolled out vide Government Order No 43-F of 2018 dated 08-02-2018 is kept in abeyance till March 31st, 2018 in the first place,” said an order issued by the Finance department.
“The readiness of stakeholders as well as foolproof technical platform will be reviewed before the rollout of the system early next financial year,” the order stated further.
Sources said that Bukhari issued orders of deferment of PAO system due to “technical difficulties and inconvenience to public”.
They said various stakeholders had requested the new Finance minister to review the government decision of implementation of the PAO system, as there were difficulties in switching over to the system.
“The decision was also taken in view of Internet disruption in various parts of the state,” they said.
Meanwhile, The Jammu and Kashmir Government has put in abeyance the Pay and Accounts Office System (P&AOS) till March 31, 2018.
