Cricket Holiday: Advantage Pakistan bureaucrats ahead of Mohali match!

NO one knows whether it’s advantage Dhoni or Afridi, but Pakistani bureaucrats have an edge over their Indian counterparts, at least on Wednesday afternoon! As India and Pakistan cricket teams would encounter in the much hyped-up world cup semi-final match at Mohali on Wednesday, Pakistani officers can go back home at noon and watch the big event of the decade.

Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani who will watch the match live with his Indian counterpart Dr Manmohan Singh, announced a half working day for all Pakistani government offices on Wednesday. A statement issued by Gilani’s office emphasized that the half-day off would allow people to “watch the Pakistan-India cricket semifinal”.

When is the last time Indian babus got a chance to take off for cheering up the country’s cricket team?

Action and Appointments

a) Abhilaksh Likhi, a 1991 batch Haryana cadre IAS, who worked as Additional Director General in the Organizing Committee of the Commonwealth Games, has been appointed as joint secretary in the ministry of social justice and empowerment in place of Ms Purnima Singh, a 1978 batch IRS-IT officer.

b) Pankaj Joshi, a 1989 batch Gujarat cadre IAS has been appointed as joint secretary in the ministry of social justice and empowerment in place of Arvind Prasad, a 1980 batch Bihar cadre IAS.

c) Umesh Kumar, a 1983 batch Rajasthan cadre IAS has been appointed as joint secretary, in the department of financial services in place of Tarun Bajaj, a 1988 batch Haryana cadre IAS.

d) Upendra Prasad Singh, a 1985 batch Orissa cadre IAS has been appointed as joint secretary in the ministry of steel in place of G Elias, a 1982 batch Kerala cadre IAS.

e) Ms Nivedita Shukla Verma, a 1991 batch UP cadre IAS, presently director, cabinet secretariat, has been appointed as joint secretary, cabinet secretariat, by temporarily upgrading the post held by the officer.