Bureaucratic reforms

Even before Imran Khan took oath as PM, he himself and those amongst his staff knew that the biggest challenge facing his administration will come from the mighty bureaucracy, and not the political opponents or even the other branches of the state. Indeed, PM Imran realised this and included in his agenda reforms aimed at overhauling these cogs in the administrative machinery. Fairly late into his tenure though, the PM has now decided to tweak the rules that govern promotions of bureaucrats, more specifically a grading system. The PTI government has decided to grant additional powers to the Central Selection Board (CSB), which is responsible for promoting officers in grade 18 and above. The weightage of the board’s assessment on a scorecard that determines promotions has been doubled. Other items affecting a bureaucrat’s promotion include the annual confidential report (ACR) carrying 40 marks (down from 50 previously) and the professional courses taken, having 30 marks. The move has been panned in some quarters as one which could open the door for greater political meddling in the bureaucracy.

Established on the lines of the British bureaucracy, the Pakistani and Indian professional services pride themselves on their stringent induction and rigourous training to create professionals to keep the cogs of the government machinery moving, come hell or high water. However, due to its nature, the bureaucracy has always remained on a sort of collision course with the elected representatives who sit above them. To a fledgling government, in its maiden term, the Pakistani bureaucracy is seen beholden to preceding regimes. But the fact of the matter is that it is besotted with its fair share of Sir Humphrey Applebys. The government is well within its right to go ahead with its idea of what the bureaucracy should be like. However, opening the door for cherry-picking and political interference — in a segment of the government which has deeply entrenched values — may bring about unintended consequences that go bump in the night. If anything, the government today is itself restless to eat the fruits of long-coveted bureaucratic reforms. Rather than opt for certain short-term fixes, the government must focus on carrying out comprehensive reforms prioritising merit. 

Published in The Express Tribune, December 13^th, 2019.

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