Unfortunately in Pakistan civil service is marred by absenteeism, ghost workers, and divided attention.
- Pakistan’s poor ranking on the Corruption Perceptions Index, signals inefficiency that hampers investment and growth. Similarly, running personal errands during officially paid time is not ethical. It is misuse of resources.
Raphic Burdo
While aspiring to Western work-life balance is understandable, Pakistan’s officials must first cultivate a robust work ethic to drive socio-economic advancement, as seen in success stories of Asian Tigers like Singapore, South Korea, and Hong Kong.
I am advocate of better work ethics in Pakistan. Whereas Pakistani civil servants and government officials seek work hours of developed nations without committing to their work ethics. Growing evidence suggests that developing nations thrive through disciplined public service rather than mimicking certain models, prematurely. The shorter workweeks are feasible for some nations due to high productivity per hour, advanced automation, and robust institutions. Pakistan has not yet achieved these outcomes. It is important therefore to stress that developing economies often require longer effective hours and full focus to bridge gaps in infrastructure, education, and governance. Pakistan too, being a developing nation, grapples with mammoth developmental challenges. Low GDP per capita, persistent poverty, and infrastructure deficits demand proactive governance. It is ironically noted that in countries like Pakistan, civil servants paid by public funds often prioritize personal activities. The entertaining of personal guests, running personal errands, and managing private side businesses by public functionaries, during official work hours, erodes trust and progress.
Blindly emulating shorter schedules by ignoring the true context of all will miss the point.
The productivity of developed nations stems from capital-intensity and efficient systems, which in turn allow them to opt for fewer hours for equivalent output.
Unfortunately in Pakistan civil service is marred by absenteeism, ghost workers, and divided attention. Therefore, by reducing the work hours without fixing core issues may potentially exacerbate delays in service delivery.
Pakistan’s poor ranking on the Corruption Perceptions Index, signals inefficiency that hampers investment and growth. Similarly, running personal errands during officially paid time is not ethical. It is misuse of resources.
Read: Only 15 per cent of Pakistan’s 600,000 civil servants have relevant education
It cannot be overemphasized that at the current stage of development, Pakistan requires more, not less, effective input from officials. In developing countries like Pakistan workers need to log in for longer hours precisely because they lag in per hour productivity. Full immersion during working hours can build the foundations for future efficiencies.
The current practices of running side businesses or socializing at work time, not only erode public trust and output but these also fuel corruption perceptions and politicization. A cultural shift is required towards professionalism where officials treat office time as sacred for public good.
It is pertinent to recall neo-Confucian values of diligence have played a key role and propelled rapid growth in South Korea and other Asian nations. There work ethic correlated with industrialization before work-life reforms. Without achieving that ethic Pakistan risks stagnation, as partial commitment yields partial results.
Let us have a look at Singapore. From a resource-poor post-colonial state, it has become a high-income hub through a merit-based, corruption-free bureaucracy emphasizing integrity and results over leisure. Singaporean officials prioritize efficiency, innovation, and anti-corruption. Strict accountability has enabled Singapore to opt for shorter yet effective work hours without sacrificing development. Pakistan could adopt similar reforms for fostering pride in public service.
At the end of day, is not blind overwork but purposeful dedication that matters.
I must acknowledge the risk of burnout in overwork. To avoid that quality of work shall always be prioritized over quantity. Besides putting in place the safeguards for anti-corruption, wellness programs for officials would also go a long way. This true progress will eventually enable western-style flexibility at work, but only after building efficiency. We must avoid pitfalls, purpose is to improve work ethics without human cost; Pakistan’s work ethic shall be disciplined focus, not aimless exhaustion.
To sum up, it cannot overemphasized that civil servants in Pakistan by acting as nation-builders can transform national aspirations into reality. To some, full professional commitment during hours and shunning of distractions may look like immense sacrifice but in fact it is essentially required investment in Pakistan’s future. With dedicated officials, service delivery and growth will improve and public money will be wisely used.
Read: Making Pakistan Next Japan
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Raphic Burdo is public policy expert focused on impact of digital technologies on leadership, governance, education and markets
