The government is all set to introduce the promised civil service reforms with a focus on the powerful Pakistan Administrative Service (PAS), the previous DMG group. The reform plan, prepared by a task force headed by former State Bank governor Dr Ishrat Husain, has been approved by the Prime Minister and the cabinet. According to press reports, its salient features include a reduction in PAS posts by more than 600. Of these, 200 at the federal level are to be filled by technical experts through a competitive process and 400 positions in the provinces by provincial civil service officers. While it makes sense to have provincial civil service cadres have a greater share in managing the affairs in their respective areas, it may not be so wise to have technocrats do administrative work. For instance, a medical professional may be excellent in the field of his or her expertise, but organisational management requires different skills. Same holds true for other technocrats. Press reports also indicate reservations and entitlements are to be done away with. That would be a negation of the widely prevalent positive discrimination aimed at giving due representation to people from disadvantage backgrounds, such as those belonging to the erstwhile tribal areas or parts of Balochistan.

One of the major reform challenges has been de-politicization of the bureaucracy by insulating it from political pressures. This calls for tenure security. It may be recalled when the task force recommended that in the case of a premature transfer the authority concerned should state the reason for it in writing, something very rational, the idea was shot down by the cabinet. It is unclear whether or not that proposal has been incorporated in the reform plan. On a positive note, promotions are to be made objective, transparent and merit-based by giving the Central Selection Board a greater say (its marks are to be increased from 15 to 30 percent) which is for the benefit of honest and capable officers. Also well-intentioned is the condition that no officer will be allowed to serve continuously for more than 10 years in a province or in the federal secretariat; and that transfer to another province or Islamabad will be mandatory on completion of that period for promotion to BS-21. However, the government is to exercise the option of retiring 'non-performing and inefficient' civil servants after 20 years of service. It could be misused to punish officers who refuse to meet unfair demands of their political masters. For those really inefficient, staying stuck in the same grade without any prospects of promotion may impel them to opt out on their own.

Bureaucracy is often blamed for a lot that is wrong in this country - not without reason. A common complaint is that whilst politicians are the target of periodic anti-corruption campaigns, bureaucrats remain untouched - save for some recent instances. It is good to note that the reform plan makes it obligatory for civil servants to make regular declarations, like legislators and public office holders, of their assets. 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 reforms so the civil service, the backbone of the administrative structure, becomes responsive to public needs rather than the power elites.