The attitude of people in authority always pushes junior staff and others to indulge in malpractice & corruption
BAHAWALPUR: Public offices are there to serve the public. But that is hardly the case in Pakistan. Recently, I happened to visit the NADRA Executive office in Bahawalpur and was surprised to see the behaviour and non-professional attitude of the staff there. The help desk was inside the office boundary and the security person was preventing people from entering the office even though they needed information and clarifications regarding CNICs, Form-Bs and other documents.
Either the help desk should have been located near the office entrance or people should be allowed to enter the premises. A country where the majority is illiterate and goes to seek help from government offices, this arrangement proved to be a real obstacle.
When the problem was taken to the highest authority at the facility (deputy assistant director), the officer responded with vanity and arrogance insisting that the arrangement was fine and said, “Jahil logon ko andar nahin aanay dia ja sakta.” (illiterate people are not allowed to come in). The attitude of people in authority always pushes junior officials, staff and others to indulge in malpractice, corruption and dishonest dealings. It must be noted that the office charges huge money in the name of urgent fee and people who come here are paying for their services. They aren’t beggars. The authorities concerned are requested to organise special training sessions for these public servants and make them realise that their salaries are paid by the taxes of the people.
Shah Rukh Hashmi
Published in The Express Tribune, April 10th, 2015.
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