Comments on: Pakistan’s prime need a real bureaucracy

By: Naved

Naved — Fri, 11 Jan 2013 03:30:03 +0000

Unfair and unjustified quota system is the root cause of this ailing system. If you want competent people at the helm of affairs, reinstate merit and only merit. Nobody in Pakistan says a word about it…………..shame on us.

By: Riaz

Riaz — Fri, 11 Jan 2013 01:58:52 +0000

Pakistani bureaucracy, inept and corrupt is serving a nation of 180 million people, just as inept and corrupt. Finding honesty in Pakistani society is like finding needle in a hey stack. Pakistani society blames the politicians, the army and the bureaucracy for corruption; it is about time it realized that the very heart of corruption is this society itself.

By: Sandip

Sandip — Thu, 10 Jan 2013 23:02:03 +0000

This group of people come from general public. It reflects what the public is. How many of you educated and selfless folks want to go to public service (none). Who wants to deal with all that politics. And at sometime you have no choice. Either you take the money or you get killed. What do you prefer? Not everyone has body like Salman Khan with bullet proof chest.

It about moral of entire society going down or even if people have morals they are not ready to stand up what is right. Put this with slow justice system its impossible to get anything done.

By: Akai

Akai — Thu, 10 Jan 2013 15:52:06 +0000

“All politics are local” is a famous saying, and one of the verities of political science. Local governments, with directly elected chief executives, need to be instituted just as they are in all developed societies. At present, the D.C. has excuses because none of the services, like health, education, and road maintenance are under his control; they are controlled by departmental heads located in the provincial capital. Actually, if individuals or groups of people are breaking the law by using “Kunda” to steal electricity, he should come down with a heavy hand and punish lawbreakers. Similarly, if schools are being used to provide shelter for cattle, that’s also breaking the law. The D.C., however pleads innocent. Why? Because, he is not held accountable by the people over whom he is exercising power.
The author of the article has correctly identified the weaknesses in civil service structure, and these must be addressed. His observations are particularly relevant to large, centralized bureaucracies. Presently, it is common for bureaucrats to spend most of their time and energy to curry favor with politicians, with scant regard for the job they are holding. The mess that we have is just ridiculous.

By: Sima

Sima — Thu, 10 Jan 2013 13:39:43 +0000

ONe of the most absurd bureaucratic system, designed to perpetuate arbitrary rules, oppress people and inherited without any change from British, is in vogue in Pakistan. To understand, if Rehman Malik, under threat from Taliban, plans to visit Peshawar, he merely has to write/inform IG Police KPK about his arrival who will in return ask the RM to visit. But a man, namely Home Secretary KPK, intervenes and asks Rehman Malik to write/ inform him about his visit, the former will in turn inform IG Police to ensure adequate security. The IGP after taking all measures will inform Home Secretary and the latter will ask Rehman Malik to carry out visit. What this middle man is good for?? Nothing, but perhaps he can write letter in English. But again, the IGP too and his team are CSP Officers and are equally good in writing english letters.
Our bureaucratic system needs complete over-haul right from induction, training to post retirement amenities. Besides, its size needs to be truncated as in other developed countries.

By: Sajjad Ashraf

Sajjad Ashraf — Thu, 10 Jan 2013 13:36:50 +0000

Qadeer Sahib has said something very fundamental and profound. I retired amongst the highest echelons, after 36 years in the foreign service.

It is a norm to blame the army, the politicians, the judiciary for this downward slide in Pakistan. No one looks at the bureaucracy. I know many of my colleagues in other services will not like it but much of ruin in Pakistan is because the bureaucrat has failed. What constitutional protection? It is only an excuse for failure… it has become our national psyche to pass the blame to others for our own inadequacies. Not for a day, I have felt insecure, have not have given in to pressure to do anything against the law. The so called absence of constitutional provision makes no difference if you are honest to your work.

Senior bureaucrats are only looking for perks and lucrative appointments after they retire. Once they reach BPS 20 they become hostage to plots that are given to BPS 22 – a bribe to keep them towing the line. No independent thinking is tolerated. . If this not imperial system – what is it?

Unfortunately, the downward spiral in public services continues unabated. Look at the National School of Public Policy – a place which should prepare our bureaucrats for top positions. It’s a place that actually breeds a culture of elitism shamefully in a country where much of the millions are below rthe poverty line. Instead of public service the NSPP is breeding imperialists. It is manned by people of mediocrity and some even with questionable credentials. The school is a national waste with bulk of money going into foreign tours which have made zero improvement in service delivery.

Malaysia did a ten year makeover of its public services. Look at Singapore’s public service We must change and unless this entrenched class is changed nothing will change for good in this Islamic Republic of Pakistan.

By: Chaman

Chaman — Thu, 10 Jan 2013 12:45:27 +0000

Apart from the interference by politicians, the public servants themselves have become greedy, selfish and corrupt. It is largely a societal issue. The public servants immediately after the partition were British trained, highly educated and men of integrity. They were truly public servants but now they are called officers who are more interested in self promotion at any cost but at the cost od general public interest. British given discipline and national interest has been replaced by self interest and irresponsibity at every level in the governance of the nation.
Law and order have been replaced by misrule andcexploitation and genuine bears racy by mobocracy.
It needs men of honor, integrity and commitment to the cause who can make a difference. I do not such men around these days.

By: ali wadood

ali wadood — Thu, 10 Jan 2013 07:40:41 +0000

Pakistan was made by bureaucrats, and every government is their make, but the lack of leadership and too much temptation destroys everything. Ghulam Isaac Khan was a good one he made a college also, after him everything went down. In short they make it and are responsible for what is going wrong. lets us hope for the best, and be prepared for the worst.

By: mansoor alam

mansoor alam — Thu, 10 Jan 2013 06:39:42 +0000

very good.
bt i dont think it will top the election agenda of any party coz it does not make sense to the voters!

By: danish125

danish125 — Thu, 10 Jan 2013 05:23:37 +0000

excellent article: full of knowledge and ideas