The only way forward is to hire civil servants purely on merit.
LAHORE: The job of civil servants is to implement the policies of the government, to help in the maintenance of law and order and also assist in the collection of revenue to sustain the government. A civil servant must be honest and have high moral standards. He should serve the interests of the public not the politicians or military dictators. Unfortunately, in the case of Pakistan, the opposite has always been the case. The only way forward is to hire civil servants purely on merit and not out of reasons that have to do with political patronage and/or nepotism.
Also, those who have certain skills and qualifications should be posted accordingly. For instance, it is absurd to see a doctor or an engineer posted as, say, a district coordination officer, or a police DIG or an income tax officers.
ST Hussain
Published in The Express Tribune, April 11th, 2011.
