'Civil service reforms'

This is apropos a Business Recorder editorial "Civil service reforms" carried by the newspaper on Sunday. The newspaper has concluded its argument by saying that "those living beyond their known means can, and must, be held to account. It is hoped the government will take a closer look at the proposed [civil service] reforms so the civil service, the backbone of the administrative structure, becomes responsive to public needs rather than the power elites."

I would, however, like to argue that the promised civil service reforms which are going to be introduced shortly will not bring about any meaningful solution.

One of the greatest Chinese contributions to humanity is the invention of bureaucracy by the former 'middle kingdom'. Recruitments in the medieval China's bureaucracy were based on recommendation by local officials. Having said that, I would like to request the head of government's taskforce Dr Ishrat Husain to take a leaf out of China's book, although whatever he has done in the area of civil service reforms deserves a lot of praise.