In a series of sweeping reforms to the Pakistan Public Service, future pay rises will be based on performance rather than length of service, the pension system will be overhauled and automation will be introduced to reduce the need for lower-grade staff.
The Government’s top adviser on the reforms, Ishrat Hussain (pictured) said the package was part of an “integrated, interwoven value-chain of human resources policies”.
“It would be a mistake to examine each component as a stand-alone without realising its inseparable linkages with other parts of the chain. Everyone is affected,” Dr Hussain said.
“We are looking at how we can enhance the quality of human resource in the whole Government,” he said.
“A weak link in the chain, if left to itself, would not allow that qualitative change to take hold.”
Dr Hussain said the reforms would also bring about changes in the recruitment system in order to attract the best talent.
“However, if they are not compensated well, have no clear career path and lack a transparent performance management system then it would be difficult to retain the brightest among them or to early retire non-performers,” he said.
He said too many current workers were “slack in their duties and end up in lowering motivation and morale, and overall productivity”.
“Under the present performance system it is difficult to identify officers who have received unsatisfactory ratings for three years and the purpose of early retirement is defeated in actual practice,” Dr Hussain said.
“So, the new Performance Management System is the pre-requisite for the success of the early retirement rules.”
Also to end was the policy of having a quota system based on what area of the country a person came from.
“Right now, you may be ideal for the Foreign Service but because of the quota system you may not be allocated a place because you are from the Punjab and that quota for the Foreign Service has been filled, so you end up in the Audit and Accounts Service,” he said.
“As a result, your domain knowledge becomes absolutely incompatible with the job you are going to do. This has to end,” Dr Hussain said.
Islamabad, 12 May 2020
