Rightsizing, really?

The government's rightsizing policy is mired in confusion and self-contradictions. For many it is no less than a window-dressing exercise, which will have little or no impact on buoying efficiency and curtailing expenses. The federal cabinet's decision to approve abolition and merger of 82 departments and agencies falling under six federal ministries and divisions into 40 is like kicking the can down the street.

The reform deliberations, for which a committee has been set up, will be tough to handle and there is no clarity as to which department should be retained and why, and which one should be axed. It is more of a merger doctrine to establish statistical alteration in the size of the government, and that is clearly evident from the submission before the cabinet that the proposed committee will "suggest measures required for protection of rights of the employees to be affected by merger and abolition". This seems to be a fine-print after-thought to ward off pressure and is akin to putting the cart before the horse.

An instant riddle is: why do we have such a big pie of civil service? There are more than 1.92 million federal employees who are paid Rs8 trillion annually in salaries, perks and privileges, apart from Rs2 trillion pension bill. This is in addition to billions that go down the drain in ministries for keeping everyone happy at the helm of affairs. Thus, the cabinet's realisation to opt for austerity measures is more of a fiction, as ground reality is contrary to it.

Likewise, the cabinet hinted at a ban on purchase of new vehicles, equipment, fresh employment and foreign visits on public expense. Is that the case too in reality? The simple answer is, 'no.' Last but not least, plans to digitise the departments and come up with smart governance is a long way to go, and there is something seriously amiss in terms of political will, besides the spanner in the works that bureaucracy throws in. Pakistan needs a judicious and efficient civil service - not the one which we have in colonial mentality. The ministries and divisions too are in undue proliferation, and need be squeezed them down to a dozen or so.