A key aide to Pakistani Prime Minister, Imran Khan has rejected accusations that the current Public Service reform process is designed to suit the influential Pakistan Administrative Service (PAS).
Ishrat Hussain (pictured), who advises Mr Khan on Institutional Reforms, said the public sector reforms were finalised after more than 60 consultative sessions involving more than 1,900 officers.
The changes make it easier for the ‘forced’ retirement of under-performing officers and involve tough criteria for promotion.
Dr Hussain conceded that PAS officers had played a major role in the reforms.
“PAS officers dominated the task force dealing with the reforms because all of its ex-officio members — the Chief Secretaries and Federal Secretaries — belonged to that cadre,” Dr Hussain said.
“However, other members were drawn from among academia, the private sector and also retired Public Servants belonging to the Pakistan Foreign Service, Police Service of Pakistan and the Inland Revenue Service,” he said.
Dr Hussain said that unless the reforms were introduced, other structural changes, such as the proposed creation of a National Executive Service, would not make much sense.
He pointed out that the Federal Cabinet had approved membership of the task force in a transparent procedure.
The reforms have also stated that promotion to the top positions in the Public Service would no longer be based just on seniority, but would take in past performance reports on the potential of the candidates to occupy the higher positions.
Rotation among Provincial and Federal Governments will also form part of the eligibility for promotion to a higher grade.
Islamabad, February 18 2021
