Mubashar Nadeem
Over the past three decades, successive governments in Punjab — whether led by the Pakistan Muslim League (N), Pakistan Peoples Party, military regimes, or coalition governments under PML(Q) — have undoubtedly influenced the civil service. Yet, there remained an unspoken code of ethics and an informal structure that provided some degree of transparency in the posting and transfer process. Even during politically charged times, financial corruption in postings was rarely systemic or openly practiced.
That changed dramatically during the tenure of Sardar Usman Buzdar, who served as Punjab’s Chief Minister under the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government. His administration introduced a troubling transformation in the province’s bureaucratic landscape — one where high-ranking administrative postings, including those of Assistant Commissioners, Deputy Commissioners, and departmental Secretaries, were reportedly handed out in exchange for money. For the first time, appointments became transactional, with rates allegedly fixed and brokers or agents operating as intermediaries for lucrative assignments.
The greatest beneficiaries of this emerging “posting-for-sale” culture were reportedly powerful land developers and real estate lobbies. Bureaucrats were deliberately appointed in specific districts and departments to facilitate these groups, providing them with legal cover and administrative muscle for their commercial interests. This practice not only eroded the credibility of the bureaucracy but also compromised the governance structure across Punjab. It converted the state’s administrative machinery into a mechanism serving private profit rather than public good.
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What made Buzdar’s tenure especially controversial was not just political interference — which is not new to Pakistan’s system — but the institutionalization of corruption in a new, organized form. Those meant to deliver services and uphold the rule of law were turned into guardians of vested interests. Departments across the civil secretariat reportedly became divided along lines of nepotism, group loyalties, and financial allegiances.
This period marked a dangerous deviation from bureaucratic norms, where merit, institutional integrity, and transparency were replaced with favoritism, corruption, and political pressure. While the current PML-N-led administration under Maryam Nawaz may not be entirely meritocratic in its postings, insiders acknowledge that the blatant use of money for transfers has notably declined. This shift, though incomplete, is a marginal improvement.
The challenge today is no longer just about administrative efficiency or ethics — it has become a broader political and state-level crisis. If future governments truly intend to rebuild a capable and independent bureaucracy, they must break away from the Buzdar-era model. Reforms must be backed by clear policies, institutional safeguards, and political will. Without it, the public service will remain hostage to the very interests it is meant to regulate.
