RECENTLY, as I stepped into the Rescue 1122 building at Kalma Chowk, Multan, I was met with a barrage of hostility that left me taken aback. As a government official on duty, surveying for groundwater contaminations from the Water Resources Zone of Punjab Irrigation, I expected a modicum of courtesy and cooperation. Instead, I was subjected to a severe reprimand by a uniformed individual.

The absurdity of the situation was palpable. While I was trying to discharge my official duties, I was being treated like an unwelcome intruder. The man’s loud tone and haughty demeanour were a stark reminder of the entitled attitude that often pervades government offices. It was as if he had forgotten that the office he was guarding was, in fact, a public office, built and maintained by the taxes of the very people he was treating with such disdain.

This incident got me thinking about the numerous government offices that have become virtual fortresses, inaccessible to the general public. People have a right to access these offices, to seek information, to lodge complaints, and to demand answers. By restricting their entry, we are creating a culture of opacity and unaccountability.

It is a sad commentary on society that people who are otherwise courteous and respectful transform into monsters when they don a uniform or sit behind a desk. The power dynamics shift, and suddenly they become the masters of the universe, doling out orders and instructions. What kind of a system allows this kind of behaviour to flourish? Is it the lack of accountability, the absence of oversight, or the culture of impunity that pervades our government offices? Whatever the reason, we need to address the issue and make our government offices more accessible and responsive to the public.

Dr Muhammad Mehboob Hassan Khan
Multan

Published in Dawn, July 10th, 2025