Pakistan’s bureaucratic callousness

The concept of a welfare state enshrines public welfare and well-being as central to the governance and administrative mechanisms of a country. Under this, the government is responsible to and accountable for the socio-economic welfare of individuals and citizens. However, the objective of a welfare state is immaterial without a compassionate, disciplined and accountable bureaucracy. Being the ultimate executive authority mandated with implementing legislations, the bureaucracy is central towards establishing a welfare state. Since they are the ones meant to ensure service delivery to the masses at the grassroots level, a compassionate, pragmatic, unfettered and humane bureaucracy and public service system is essential for a welfare system to operate effectively.

Regrettably, Pakistan’s bureaucracy is ineffective and non-empathetic. Colonial mentalities and power-hungry tendencies are inextricably woven within the system. Historical and socio-economic constraints notwithstanding, Pakistan’s bureaucracy lacks the capacity, the compassion, the freedom and the willpower to maintain collective social good. There is a great interpersonal dichotomy and trust deficit between the national bureaucracy and the public. This divide hampers service delivery to all and sundry. Recruitment lacunas, political appointments, superiority complex, lack of training and influenced postings and transfers are some of the reasons behind the bureaucracy dwarfed performance.

Their training is where they are almost taught to be arrogant and superhuman. They are brainwashed into thinking that the more they are beyond access, the more they are revered and the more their powers multiply. ‘Elite’ is the term they like to be identified with. This superiority complex is manifested in the fact that a large section of the bureaucracy behaves no differently than autocracies in their respective realms. Indifference, apathy and incapacity are the defining features of most of the bureaucratic strata when it comes to the hapless poor and the destitute section of society. The large segment of the country’s bureaucracy is partial to the favours of the rich and powerful who wish to enjoy impunity and an unbridled power grasp. In this backdrop, the term ‘public servant’ appears to be a misnomer as officials barely behave like one. On the first days of being posted, most officials particularly in Sindh pay homage to the influentials of the area in order to please and appease them.

Furthermore, hunger for power reigns supreme in the hearts and minds of most public servants and bureaucrats. Most of those that have made it into the bureaucratic sphere through fair or foul means have only two objectives in minds: to hold as much power and to amass as many riches as they possibly can. Serving the masses, particularly the underprivileged, exists nowhere in their agenda. It is a commonly observed norm in Pakistan, particularly in Sindh, that most of the bureaucrats are beyond access to the poor and the destitute. Commoners are left waiting for weeks if not months just to voice out their genuine grievances. However, for feudals, media persons or local influentials, the doors of the offices are wide open regardless of the office hours. From the peon to the higher authorities of public and semi-government organisations, no official is ready to carry out any work without a bribe.

Pakistan’s slide in the Corruption Perceptions Index and the recent seizure of millions worth of gold, cash and kind by NAB in Karachi are but the few instances of unbridled practices of corruption unleashed by large sections of the bureaucracy.

Pakistan’s colonial and power hunger bureaucracy has been a great contributor to this degenerative national plight. Sindh’s bureaucracy feels that their duty to the feudal lords and patrons are more important and meaningful than their relationship with the common man. In many instances, personal whims, wishes and interests of the patrons in chief reign supreme and supersede official provisions and rulings. The country needs a humane, compassionate and generous bureaucracy that sincerely believes that public good must be above all else. Otherwise, a welfare state would continue to remain a distant dream.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 9^th, 2022.

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