‘An overview of civil services of Pakistan’

The civil services form an important element of national progress and development, as being a fundamental administrative unit, they forge a direct impact on various matters of national significance. They not only deliver services, but also offer leadership at numerous levels of national administration and governance.

This overview of civil services was presented by Fasih Uddin, senior IPS associate and former chief economist, Planning Commission of Pakistan, during an interactive session held at IPS on February 21, 2022.

The session was presided over by Chairman IPS Khalid Rahman and attended by Ambassador (r) Syed Abrar Hussain, vice chairman, IPS and Syed Abu Ahmed Akif, former federal secretary, alongside the Institute’s research faculty.

Discussing the importance, history and evolution of civil services in Pakistan, the speaker explained that the contemporary civil service structure in Pakistan has gradually evolved from the pre-independence civil service framework, which itself finds its roots in the mid-nineteenth century. With time and different post-independence political eras, there have been several reforms and amendments in civil administration roles, duties, induction, and formation, some made by legal means and other by political wills. The establishment of new service categories, the inclusion of women at different administrative levels, accountability of civil servants, and the allocation of authority & power are a few examples of reforms that were done lately.

At the same time, the speaker pointed out, the civil administration framework and services are also loaded with a number of flaws and shortcomings which include the lack of sense of responsibility, political tints, corruption and incompetency.

The speaker advised in the end that the civil administration of Pakistan must be made effective and disciplined, and this can only be done by inculcating civil servants with ethics, moral values, sense of responsibility, competence and commitment.