Days after dropping a bombshell and blowing the whistle on the country's bureaucracy, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on Monday doubled down on his criticism, taking aim at "lavish indulgences" of civil servants and calling for urgent legislative reforms to rein them in.
Speaking on a private news channel, the minister cited staggering figures from a report, saying a colossal Rs3.5 trillion was spent annually on bureaucrats. "According to a PIDE [Pakistan Institute of Development Economics] report, Rs860 million is spent over the entire service span of a single bureaucrat," he added. While not accusing the entire civil service, Asif alleged that "25 to 30 per cent" of the bureaucracy was corrupt. "I will personally demand my own government to legislate on bureaucracy," he vowed.
He urged that bureaucrats be legally bound to declare their assets annually, arguing that "no other sector has as much corruption as the bureaucracy."
Pointing to "glaring disparity" in dual nationality rules, Asif noted, "No politician, judge or army officer in Pakistan can hold dual nationality only bureaucrats can. This privilege must end."
He also demanded an end to the "endless allotment of plots" to bureaucrats, saying such perks should not be treated as an entitlement.
The minister further said that he had not expected his earlier statement about some bureaucrats buying property in Portugal to cause such an uproar. He revealed that he was now conducting an inquiry and intended to expose those involved.
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