The Esta Code

A recent report highlighted our slow growth rate when compared with India and China. The report cited bad governance as the reason for this dismal performance. Political interference initiated during Zulfikar Ali Bhutto’s rule has destroyed state institutions. We have had this broken system of governance for many decades.
To improve governance, our parliament should pass laws that ensure that politicians cannot interfere or remove government employees at will. It should also be ensured that employment is made on merit through a committee of technocrats. And any vacant seat is filled by the board of governors of a company or organisation within a stipulated time period. Similarly, the judiciary should also help by ensuring that no employee of government companies or organisations is removed from service on political grounds or without recorded and valid reasons. There are a set of rules called the ‘Establishment Code or Esta Code’ that defines the processes for removal, hiring, etc, that can be used as guidelines.
Engr Shahryar Khan Baseer
Peshawar