Two things must be made clear while reforming the civil service of Pakistan: first, the reforms should not be done in the back rooms by the patient that needs healing—bureaucracy; second, nor should they be left to donors who have tried to reform the civil service of Pakistan but failed.
When then are the principles that such a reform should seek?
First, Universal Pay Scale (UPS) must be abolished. Civil Service must not be viewed as a monolith comprising all the government employees. Currently, UPS, which is a hangover of the socialist planning days, seeks to place all services on an artificial relative scale so that doctors and professors are considered inferior to general administrators.
Second, the entitlement mentality of civil servants has to end. Predetermined promotions, irrespective of the performance, have to be discontinued.
Third, all civil service jobs should not be protected from the external competition. The appointment at the secretary and deputy secretary level should not be restricted to only bureaucratic cadres. Government should invite the world’s and domestic best talent from different segments.
Fourth, the current practice of PAS dominating the provincial posts must be discontinued. PAS officers serving under the provincial governments are not accountable to the provincial cabinet or legislation. It erodes the fundamental principles of accountability.
Fifth, perks that are now connected with patronage and power must be discontinued. All perks must be monetized. Salaries for the civil service should be all in cash based on market comparators.
Sixth, rules of the civil service should be reviewed to ensure that government becomes a learning, investigating, and thinking government using technology, developing data, information, and analysis.
