Bureaucrats Or Countries
 

[FONT="Palatino Linotype"][SIZE="6"] Bureaucrats Or Countries[/SIZE][/FONT]

Untill some years ago , one reason for joining government service rather then the more paying Private sector was that Young men wanted the self-respect and security that

government job gave them,Rather then being under the seth in the private sector.
But now a government job has come to resemble one under a seth. A reminder of that are headlines that read: "Bureaucrats lobby sharifs for plum job: reception tent at raiwand

packed with supplicants".
From the days of 'Brown sahibs' whe have come full cricle to the era of darbaris(countries).A certain number of darbaris civil servants always existed,But now shuch conditions have

been created that the number has swollen to a level where you need a tent to accomodate them.The secretary/Inspector general of police was the bastion of power and that is where

the buck stopped for the provincial bureaucracy,The establishment secretary and the secretary of the ministry for the federla bureaucracy.
The chief secretary was supposed to interact with the chief minister and the establishment secretary with the prime minister, they were to ensure not only that the best men were

posted to the right jobs but that an officers's Honour and reputation was protected when he took decisions on merit and in good faith.
This gave the bureaucracy confidence and respect due to which the public accepted their authority. This is what is needed now.
In fact the government writ was on account of the respect and awe that the bureaucracy inspired.When that writ was challenged ,it was firmly dealt with,Without fear.Decision

taken by the officer wre normally not reversed and the officer was confident that his boss would stand by him.In case the officer is needed to be rebuked or disciplined,this was

done privately so as not to lower his image in the eyes of public.

I remeber that as commissioner in faislabad division,in one of many anti- Enroachment Operations we had demolished 103 car show rooms, three-story high in faislabad city. These

had been built Illegaly and had remain on the government land since the last 40 years.it was the down-to-dusk operation using bulldozers and cranes.

In another operation 600 or so shops were demolished on jhang road,action which open the city's clogged artireries.I informed the chief secretary a night before the operation.There

was no fear of the 103 well- connected, rich owners of those car show rooms or the 600 shopkeepers ,or the courts ;what was being done was in public interest. I came to no harm.

Unfortunately that kind of confidence is not available to officers currently--for no fault of theirs. They have not been Provided with the environment,From the very start of their

careers to develope along the right line.

On leaving there Training Institutions the young bright,Idealistic Young men and women are thrown to elected representatives to find their patrons and god fathers.
The senior officers rather then Taking them under their wing and guiding and protecting them are unfortunately looking for their own patrons and godfathers.so officers at all level

head towards the tent of ministers chief ministers and the prime ministers rather then waiting room of the Chief secretary or their bosses. And you cannot blame them.A silver

lining to his dismal and deteriorating state of affairs has been the recent order of the supreme court in the "Anita turab" case that justiciable reasons will have to be recorded by the

government before transferring any officer prematurely.

While a Brave
officer put her career on the block by going to court against the government,One hopes the courts will have their Ruling implemented without fear or favor.
This Matter of the prime ministers and chief Ministers surrounding themselves with the best and the most loyal officers and leaving the rest of the bureaucracy in the lurch is

neither good for the bureaucracy nor for the rulers.The letter can only be deliver if the bureaucracy deliver and establishes writ of the state in all sectors.
The office of the establishment secretary and the chief secretary should be restored to its old powers and we should strive to have bureaucrats as servants of the state and not the


Political parties.

The maturity being shown in politics in recognizing each other mandate should also trickle down to the bureaucracy.All officers who held decent posts under previous

Governments need not to be placed on the list of suspects by the new government unless they are known flaunt their loyalties.

There is Also counter productive Management style that has developed ;this is the governance that stem solely from the rulers Priorities of the ruler leaving them no time to attend

the public routine problems.

Because the Official is under constant pressure exerted by the ruler to meet deadlines he has no time for the ordinary public.This causes misery to the public . Everyday affairs that

do not fit with the breaking news type of issues comprises 90pc of the governance issues in a well functioning government.Just being Available to the public it self is a relief as

against being Always at the beck and call for the ruler's office.

As we cerebrate the continuity of democratic process let us also be conscious that there is need to wind up the tents full of supplicating government servants and restore their

Honor and the self respect in the entrust of the elusive dream of Good governance.


The Writer is Former Secretary Commerce.