Bureaucracy 2.0

Pakistan’s bureaucracy is long overdue for a systemic overhaul. Reports suggesting that the PML-N government is mulling over civil service reforms similar to those proposed by the PTI government are a promising, albeit cautious, development. These reforms – introduced in September 2018 under the guidance of the Dr Ishrat Husain-led Task Force – offered a comprehensive blueprint for modernising the civil service, yet largely remained unimplemented. The reforms aimed to address critical deficiencies in how bureaucrats are recruited, trained, and promoted. The task force consulted over 3,000 participants in 68 sessions, underscoring the importance of inclusivity in addressing the bureaucratic challenges that plague the country. Proposals such as preliminary screening tests, domain-specific cluster-based exams, psychometric evaluations, and structured interviews sought to introduce meritocracy into a system often criticized for rewarding seniority over competence.

One of the most ambitious yet underappreciated recommendations involved the clustering of ministries into specialised streams – economic, social sector, technical, and general management. This would ensure that a bureaucrat’s expertise aligns with their ministry’s requirements, addressing the longstanding issue of arbitrary postings. Too often are officers shuffled from health to education to energy without relevant expertise, hampering the effectiveness of government projects. Reducing such mismatched postings is not just a matter of efficiency; it is about delivering results to citizens who rely on government services. The broader reform agenda also included automating processes, overhauling training schemes, and instituting competitive processes for promotions to higher grades. While some changes, like the bifurcation of mid-career and senior management courses, were implemented, many proposals never materialised.

The repeal of reforms aimed at removing deadwood from the bureaucracy after the vote of no-confidence against the PTI government was a step backward. It highlighted the tendency of successive governments to prioritise political expediency over institutional improvement. The current government must resist the temptation to fall into the same trap. Critics often fixate on the shortcomings of politicians, the military, or the judiciary, but the bureaucracy is equally culpable in perpetuating inefficiency and red tape. Bureaucrats are instrumental in translating political vision into actionable governance, yet their performance often escapes public scrutiny. Delayed or poorly executed projects are attributed to political failures, while the bureaucratic hurdles behind such failures are rarely debated. It is time for Pakistan to rethink its civil service structure fundamentally. Random postings based on seniority or connections cannot continue to determine governance outcomes. If the PML-N government is serious about reform, it must learn from the shortcomings of past efforts. A robust implementation mechanism, free from political interference, is essential. Bureaucratic reforms are not a partisan endeavour; they are a national imperative. By embracing and expanding on the PTI’s blueprint, the government has the opportunity to not only modernise the civil service but also restore public confidence in governance. Pakistan cannot afford to let another opportunity for meaningful reform slip away. It is time to move beyond rhetoric and deliver a civil service that is equipped to meet the challenges of a 21st-century state.