LAHORE: Prime Minister’s Adviser on Institutional Reforms Dr Ishrat Hussain on Wednesday met provincial secretaries belonging to the PAS (Pakistan Administrative Service), majority of whom remained tight-lipped, and leaders of the provincial service officials who demanded full participation in the ‘change process’ so as to protect their rights.

The meeting was reportedly held in the Civil Secretariat mainly because of letters written to him and the prime minister by the Punjab Management Service Association, seeking inclusion in the process of the institutional reforms in the country.

The PAS officials, who attended the meeting, said majority of the participants quietly listened to Dr Ishrat Hussain who elaborated his job, asked the provincial secretaries to identify departments which could be disbanded, reshaped or merged into others, and suggest how to ‘rightsize’ the government. But this should not be done in public service delivery departments like police and health where downsizing would affect service delivery.

He reportedly said all would be allowed to join the National Executive Service. Induction in the NES is reportedly planned to be made in BS-19 through a competitive examination to be taken by officials from all federal service groups including PAS (formerly DMG) and provincial services. The PAS officers swallowed it quietly.

PMS demands participation in ‘change process’

Dr Ishrat was quoted as having assured the officials that the government would stop NAB from intimidating the civil officers in the name of accountability. It would not question bona fide decisions, he reportedly assured.

The PMS delegation, which called on Dr Ishrat, was led by its President Shahid Hussain and General Secretary Naveed Shehzad Mirza. They asked him to make the provincial service officers a part of the federal task force on institutional reforms so that they could ensure redress of their longstanding issues. Otherwise, they should be given representation in separate task forces for provinces.

They said the previous [service] reforms were made without involving the provincial service officials and therefore such moves did not provide any benefit to them. Ignoring them again this time would create doubts in their minds about the credibility of the process.

Dr Ishrat reportedly said that he wanted institutional reforms in the entire country and as to how he could implement recommendations from the Punjab PMS. Upon this he was informed that the provincial service officials from all provinces had constituted an all-Pakistan body for representation in the reforms process. The PMS officers said they were for change but wanted to become a part of it for ownership and protection of their rights.

Dr Ishrat reportedly asked them to meet heads of the sub-committees for Punjab made by the federal government and the outgoing Punjab chief secretary.

Published in Dawn, October 4th, 2018