Politics, not civil service, needs reforms

Politicization destroys merit-based appointments, subordinating legal procedures and administrative integrity to political favors and vote banks.

Zafar Wassan

It seems a new exercise in the laboratory of ruling party’s planning corridors is underway with a view to improve the governance system by reforming the civil service. In present scenario, it is undeniable fact that the service delivery systems from public sector is not up to mark and it is not promising for the nation. Tragically, after independence the level of efficiency is scaled down, rather than to touch the ascending digits on scale of performance. It is a bitter reality of the time that democratic change after adult franchise electoral system caused a sharp decline in terms of economic uplift and development of the country. The political government came after the adult franchise electoral system, caused to abrogate the constitutional cover for tenure security. Public functionaries were made subordinate to elected politicians. In backdrop of this law enactment, the merit lost its place and the will of politicians prevailed over the law based solutions. Now, the tenure of a civil servant depend upon the sweet will of political head of government. No doubt, public service delivery systems need improvement, but, it should not meant to deviate from public service based on merit and rule of law. It should not meant to promote favoritism, cronyism and illegal means to reward the lucrative and important position to inept and undeserving functionaries.

Apparently, it seems that proposed civil service reforms will not work and deliver the results as it conceived. These reforms recommendations are made on the model of corporate governance. In corporate sector the delivery targets are meant to increase the monetary or economic returns for a company. These targets are meant to increase the financial size of company. All planning and development operations of corporate entities are meant to earn the profits. The companies are owned by individuals and group of individuals, whereas public service management system is entirely a different landscape to work. It works for the whole population of the country. It delivers across the board, beyond any discrimination and prejudice.

Let us consider that what is real issue to operate governance systems and why is not working in best efficient manner?. In this connection, while reviewing the past performances, some indifferent facts are revealed. It is reported in different history annals, that the governance systems in earlier two decades was quite better than present messy governance. In earlier decades, the country’s economic progress and social development was promising. Pakistan’s ascending graph in terms of economic development was exemplary. The donors were referring these models of governance to other developing countries of the world to follow. It was good in operation as it was free from undue political interference. In developed countries, the governance is run with legal frameworks under prescribed procedures. The equality, justice and human dignity are the landmark of their governance systems. In our systems, the ego is prevailing over the service delivery systems. Politicians are more interested in vote bank rather than to work for the improvement of service delivery. The people who did not vote in favor of ruling politicians are being discriminated and victimized in development programs, funded from public exchequer. It is an undeniable reality that discrimination and prejudice are impeding obstructions for the development pathway. Paradoxically, government is not ready to understand the problem confronted with the system of governance. The law is not being honored in the public service entities, meant to serve the people. The books meant to run the governance systems are not short of of remedies. It provide laws, procedures, policies and regulations to decide the issue. In present legal system it is not a problem to select right person for a specific slot. Law and procedures are very clear to select the best persons to run the public service system. But, political system, based on vote bank criteria doesn’t allow to work in conformity with laws and merit. The criteria for the selection and posting should be based on merit rather than political recommendations. It is norm of the day that merit is being regularly violated by political interference. The system impaired by corrupt practices meant to aggrandize the cronies and favorites of politicians.

In this connection, it is in line with previous recommendations forwarded by experienced bureaucrats, it is proposed that tenure security of public servants should be ensured by strong enactment of laws. Promotions should be on merit rather than to oblige the political recommendations. The corrupt and inefficient functionaries should be barred from promotions. The law abiding environment should be created in public offices. Public functionaries should be encouraged to obey the law and prefer the merit while deciding the matters of public importance rather than to obey the political demands.

Read: Free Thought Can Fix Bad Rules

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Hailing from Sanghar district of Sindh, the author served as public functionary on various senior positions. Now, regularly writing as freelance writer.