KARACHI:
Bureaucracy is a vital pillar of a state’s governing structure which implements policies formulated by the legislature and executive. The objective of the entire bureaucratic machinery is to create ease and comfort in the lives of ordinary citizens. Effective and long-lasting policy implementation demands that bureaucrats are assured stability in service by insulating them from any political intervention.
The abysmal situation of governance in Pakistan highlights the poor performance of the entire state machinery. A closer look at the affairs reveals that it is mainly the politicisation of bureaucracy that rendered it inefficient in governing citizens. The bureaucracy is expected to stay unbiased and neutral while performing assigned duties. However, the top-tier bureaucratic layer remains heavily affiliated with political parties to gain perks, privileges and postings of their liking in return for rendering favourable services to their political bosses.
That’s why the entire bureaucratic framework generally undergoes shuffling with a change in government, be it a provincial or federal government. Thus, a political transition is bound to disrupt the entire state administrative structure, leaving many policies unimplemented. Ordinary citizens have to pay the price of this repeated bureaucratic shuffling. All stakeholders must keep the bureaucracy away from politics if this country is to prosper and policies are to gain ground.
Asad Aziz
Khushab
Published in The Express Tribune, August 5th, 2022.
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