ACCORDING to media reports, 33 senior bureaucrats have been promoted to pay-scale 22 (status of a federal secretary), a dream position for every civil servant.

In the past, the position of the federal secretary was the exclusive prerogative of an elite service, the Civil Service of Pakistan. The name was changed to District Management Group in the wake of Administrative Reforms of 1973, introduced by the ZAB government.

The present government has approved a new title, Pakistan Administrative Service (PAS). This is an old wine in a new bottle. Most of the promoted officers belong to this service.

An unprecedented number of bureaucrats have been promoted to BPS 22 during the last four years, including officers belonging to FSP, PAAS, PSP, Customs, and SG to accommodate favourite officers.

The package of the position of a federal secretary or a BPS 22 officer is really lucrative: hefty salary, foreign trips and perks, including a fleet of cars belonging to attached departments, autonomous organisations and projects.

After retirement, a BPS 22 officer gets an additional expensive residential plot in Islamabad, a government-paid driver and an orderly.

A federal secretary and his spouse are entitled to gratis official passport for life.

The basic responsibility of bureaucracy is to formulate economic and social policies for the welfare of the people and their safety and security. Has our bureaucracy fulfilled this responsibility?

The country is facing a serious crisis: most devastating is the energy crisis affecting industry, commerce, transport, agriculture and domestic consumers of gas and electricity. Insecurity in the country is scaring away foreign investment, tourists and even cricket teams.

Inflation and unemployment are forcing people to commit suicide and resort to extremism, tarnishing the image of Pakistan abroad.

Seen in this scenario, expansion and promotion in the bureaucracy seems unjustified.

ASGHAR MAHMOOD Islamabad