Balochistan dismisses 72 doctors flagged by AI attendance system
72 government doctors in Balochistan lost their jobs on Saturday for long absences, bringing health department dismissals to 200. How the crackdown works.
Balochistan’s health department dismissed 72 government doctors on Saturday, 31 October, for staying away from duty for long periods, after the province’s new AI-based attendance system tracked who was actually turning up. With this round, 200 health department employees have now been sacked for unauthorised absence.
Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti announced the dismissals on X, saying the AI attendance system introduced in the health department was “starting to show results”. He said public employees are servants of the people and the government will not let staff draw salaries while staying away from work.
Who was dismissed
The notification from the provincial health secretary covers medical officers in grade 17 and senior medical officers in grade 18. They were removed with immediate effect under the Balochistan Employees’ Efficiency and Disciplinary Act, 2011, which allows dismissal for wilful absence.
Health Minister Bakht Muhammad Kakar said the doctors had been sent repeated notices to report for duty and did not respond, which left the government no choice. “We have zero tolerance for absenteeism and negligence among medical staff,” he said, adding that the reforms are being carried out on the chief minister’s instructions.
The numbers behind the crackdown
- 72 doctors dismissed in this round
- 200 health department employees dismissed in total
- Rs410 million deducted from salaries over attendance and discipline violations
- 11,000 employees issued notices asking them to explain absences
- Departmental action under way against another 800
What is the AI attendance system?
The government says it is the first AI-based attendance system in the province’s health department, used to monitor staff at government hospitals and health centres. Officials have not yet explained publicly how it records attendance, which facilities it covers or how a doctor can challenge a wrong entry. Those are fair questions for any system that can cost someone their job.
Why this matters in Balochistan
Ghost and absent staff have been a long-running complaint in Balochistan’s health system, where patients in remote districts often travel for hours to reach a basic health unit only to find no doctor there. Earlier this year the department dismissed 26 women doctors over prolonged absence, and the chief minister has repeatedly asked district officials for attendance reports.
The flip side is the shortage the province already faces. Doctors posted to far-off districts have long complained about security, housing and pay, and removing 200 staff leaves posts that will need filling. The government has not said how quickly it will recruit replacements.
No response from doctors’ associations had been made public by Sunday. The dismissed doctors can appeal the orders through the departmental process under the same law, and Kakar has said disciplinary action will continue.
