The parliamentary standing committee of the National Assembly on Cabinet/ Establishment, in full collaboration with government and the opposition including PML (N), has unanimously approved an amendment in the law to enable “anyone authorized by the prime minister” to become the chairman of the high-powered Central Selection Board (CSB), which recommends promotion in BS-20 and BS-21 in the civil bureaucracy, by cutting the powers of the Chairman Federal Public Service Commission.

Presently, under the law, the Chairman FPSC is also the Chairman of the Central Selection Board (CSB). Previously, massive transfers and promotions in bureaucracy have given rise to strong allegations that politicization of the civil service is in full swing. It is alleged that only PPP-affiliated bureaucrats are being given promotions and lucrative posts while skilled and professional highly reputed bureaucrats are being removed from responsible posts or transferred to unimportant departments because of their neutral positions.

There can be no good governance without basic democratic principles and human rights; indeed, democracy and the political participation, which goes with it, are what generate and legitimate good governance in the first place. The sitting government has never allowed the present Chairman Federal Public Service Commission to chair the CSB. Initially through an ordinance Secretary Establishment was deputed chairman of the CSB. On lapse of the ordinance the government never convened the meeting of the CSB as in such a case the Chairman FPSC would have to chair it.

Increasing politicization of bureaucracy, gross corruption and inefficiency are major stumbling blocks to good governance. Lack of proper recruitment, training, and promotions on merit has resulted in the bureaucracy being totally out of tune with the need of country. The BS-20 and BS-21 promotions have been awaited since long but because of the government’s reluctance to allow the CSB to be led by an independent chairman, it is not convening the meeting of the promotion board. The government should ensure recruitment/ promotion of quality people through FPSC as per established rules, improve terms and conditions of service, inspire and boost the morale of officials and regularize promotion systems and keep bureaucracy free from politicization.

Bureaucracy, when politicized, often resorts to partisan politics to hide their inefficiency and the only solution of such problems is to produce a set of good and efficient officers at the entry level. The existing available training system for the civil administration is poor and inadequate. Training methods are old and institutions are staffed with instructors lacking proper qualification, who are dumped there as punishment posting.

In Pakistan, government does not advance the common good. Decisions benefit the rulers, their clans, oligarchies, and party but not the people. Corruption is rampant, laws are trampled, state capacity is weak, infrastructure is poor, and social services are starved. Jobs are scarce because investment is scant in the face of predatory governments and insecure property rights. Consequently, development is stalled and people are impoverished, alienated, and angry.

Strengthening Pakistan’s state institutions is the key to rebuilding the earthquake-ravaged nation. Civil Society and many international donors are putting a focus on transparency, public administration, justice, security, economic policy, infrastructure, education and health care in their reconstruction efforts and it can be done only through strong and transparent state institutions.

Conversely, we are reversing the best institutions; with the result that ask any person in the street about the manifestations of the Pakistan crisis and the answers will pour out without second thought; political paralysis, anemic leadership, food insecurity, poor competitiveness in the world market, institutional corruption, gender inequality, youth crisis, environmental degradation, hate media, impunity, hemorrhage of human and financial capital. The politicians are widely perceived as too incompetent, too corrupt, too opportunist; doesn’t matter, they are always together to get more and more power and money; the position now seems to be absolutely clear that it is a hide and seek game between the “Elite Club” and the common people.

The political leaders must spell out what they expect from the bureaucracy and must not interfere in areas beyond their jurisdiction. The Public Service Commission should be made fully and genuinely independent and changes proposed by the parliamentary standing committee of National Assembly should not be moved for legislation. Instead, institutions may be strengthened and radical changes should be brought at the earliest possible time to arrest qualitative deterioration of bureaucracy.

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