LAHORE The Punjab government has been unable to implement transfer-posting policy, which is causing huge problems to the civil servants and resentment also, which is serious hampering the functioning of various departments. According to government employees, the transfer-posting policy is not being practised in its true letter and spirit because of repeated interferences by politicians coupled with bureaucratic support being extended to favourites, which is adding to the problems of the 'disliked officers and officials who certainly have no strings to pull whenever they are transferred and posted to far-off places or against next-to-OSD posts. As per unannounced policy, transfer-postings of SHOs and Patwaris at the bare minimum level are being done according to the 'instructions, and in quite a large number of cases upon direct directions of the MNAs and MPAs of the ruling party. This extends to the level of secretaries and their staff posted at the Civil Secretariat to the district and tehsil administrations across the province. As per the policys salient features, transfers would be kept to the barest minimum and would be made against vacant post except where the transfers were justified on administrative or compassionate grounds. The employees whether gazetted or non-gazetted due to retire within next two years, would be allowed to continue in the same district or at the same station of postings till retirement as far as possible. Regarding couples cases, when husband and wife both are serving, it was desirable to keep them at one station for a period of not more than five years; thereafter they would be transferred as per the policy. However, efforts would be made to post unmarried females and widows at stations suitable to them as far as possible. The unmarried and widows would be given preference over couple cases in the matter of posting and transfers at stations convenient to them In order to mitigate the suffering of the handicapped and blind employees, the government is to be considerate in posting and transferring them. In the same vein, sympathetic attitude would be adopted while posting or transferring a government employee or officers whose child is mentally challenged and efforts would be made to post them at the place of their choice. Importantly, a stay of three years and five years would be treated respectively as the minimum and maximum period at a particular place. Similarly for employees transferable, no employee is to be allowed to serve in one district beyond a period of seven years, within particular office, seats having sensitive nature of work such as extensive public dealings, establishment, monetary sanctions etc. would be clearly defined and maximum stay would be kept at two years. Premature transfers, that is, transfer of any employee before he has completed minimum three years would not be ordered except under rare circumstances of punishment or clearly spelt out administrative reasons. Unfortunately, the government cannot claim that it is actualising the most glaring aspects of the document even. That is why, the number of complainant-officers and officials is increasing day-by-day, while quite a few of them are moving the competent courts for the redressel of their complaints.