This refers to an Opinion piece by Dr Moonis Ahmar, ‘Our national degeneration after late 1970s’ that appeared in these columns on November 26.
The writer states that the period between the 1960s and late 1970s is referred to as the golden era of Pakistan. I would extend this time line from 1952 to 1978; during these golden years Pakistan was performing extremely well. The Civil Service of Pakistan, then one of the greatest services in the world, was in vogue. My late father, AR Siddiqi, CSP, was from the 1956 batch, holding the seventh position in the merit list. All bureaucrats during that era served the country with diligence, honesty and sincerity.
Secondly, the writer states that our national institutions are deteriorating. That is a soft liner. Our national institutions have degraded left, right and centre, since the late 70s or the 80s, when the so-called Dubai boom came into effect. Narco-dollars and arms trafficking also contributed to the melting of moral virtues.
For a sharp upturn in our economy, rule of law and governance, it is imperative that our Civil Services are improved upon and merit and performance-oriented local governments are instituted nationwide. All patriotic men and women, civilian and military, must play their due, co-ordinated role in resurrecting the national stature of Pakistan and its people.
Abbas R Siddiqi
Lahor
