Topic: Summary of Chapter 8: The Civil services

Book: Governing the Ungovernable

INSTRUCTOR: Dr. Fatima

Student
SAMIA Manzoor
04091813075
BS 8th Development Economics
The Civil Services
Introduction:
▪ The Central Superior Services (CSS; or Civil Servants) is a permanent elite civil service
authority, and the civil service that is responsible for running the bureaucratic operations
and government secretariats and directorates of the Cabinet of Pakistan.  The civil service
defined itself as "key wheels on which the entire engine of the state has to move. The Civil
Services is a bit like a rusty weather rock. It moves switch opinion then it stays where it is
until another wind moves it in a different direction.

Initial Phase of Civil Services:

▪ Lifelong job security

▪ Sense of Idealism

▪ Key position

▪ New entrants had at least a master’s degree from leading universities in Pakistan and across
the world

▪ Thus formed the backbone of the higher civil service of Pakistan

Historical Background:
 Derived from the colonial legacy of the former Indian Civil services the civil service
came into its modern formation immediately after the establishment of Pakistan as a
"Civil Service of Pakistan”. At the time of independence, there were only 100 Muslim
officers in the entire cadre of 1,167 civil servants, of these only 95 opted for Pakistan.
There were only 8 group foreign services, police service, Audit and Accounting
services, Income Tax, Custom services, Railway send military Accounts Services,
postal services. Young officers were selected through competitive exam followed by
interview and psychological tests to check aptitude, competence and potential. By
mid-1960’s 3000 officers out of which 500 belonged to top cadre started to fill the
gap by reaching to top admirative positions. For less advance areas, Quota system was
introduced in recruitment process.
Class system was introduced for better hierarchal classification.
▪ Class I – policy makers
▪ Class 2- other admirative staff and technical persons
▪ Crossover between two classes can happen
▪ Class 1and 2 were gazetted officers.
▪ Class 3 and 4 were non- gazetted
▪ Unified pay and grade structure was introduced in 1970’s.
▪ Class 1 in 17 to 22 grades
▪ Class 2 in 13to 16
 ▪ Class 3 in 6 to 12 grades
▪ Class 4 in 1 to 5
Class structure remained intact although nomenclature designations were changed with
constant upgradation of posts. The reason behind this class system was not the socio-
economic background rather it was their intellect and educational excellence.
Reforms:
In Ayyub khan ‘s era, section officer scheme was introduced. Hierarchical tiers were reduced
from seven to four and Roles of assistants and clerks was curtailed and given to section
officer. The reason behind was improvement in quality of input, reduction in time span of
disposal of office business, acceleration of decision-making process.
1973 reforms were focused on making services more flexible. Occupational groups were
introduced, and unified grading was introduced, pay structures were favourable to low grade
officers and difference in salary reduced. The elite cadre was split into the secretariat group,
District management group, tribal areas group. Autonomy and supremacy of civil service was
curtailed. The abolition of service cadres, and their functional replacement by the
“occupational Groups”
The establishment of a Unified National Pay Scales replacing the numerous pay scales in
practice at the time of reform. The discontinuance of the practice of reservation of posts for
members of the elite cadre such as the Civil Services of Pakistan (CSP). The abolition of the
CSP Academy, The establishment of a joint pre-service training program and the introduction
of “lateral recruitment” program.
The establishment of a provision for vertical movement between cadres was also introduced.
The creation of Federal Public Service Commission.

Issues:
▪ Reservation of Posts – Whether certain posts in the secretariat, district administration,
economic pool etc. should remain legally reserved for members of designated service
cadres. Pay differentials – Remuneration of officer will be based on Cadre wise scale
▪ Status of All Pakistan services- To be modified
▪ Status of CSP – Role’s function and powers of CSPs were modified
▪ Affective sentiments – Civil Service of Pakistan was said to corrupt, inefficient and
arrogant. This issue was addressed by curtailing the elitism of services
▪ Lateral recruitment – Provisions were made for recruitment to posts within central
superior services through competitive examination
▪ Horizontal movement – Movement from posts of comparable levels within a given
cadre was allowed to take place to posts in other cadres.
▪ Status of technical officers – Should officers with technical training hold policy
making positions or not.
 ▪ Role of Head of Department – Optimal relationship between line and staff officers
favouring paramountcy of latter was modified.
▪ Status of pre training – Changes were made in pre-service training of recruits to
central superior services.
▪ Service tribunals – Service tribunals were established.
▪ Role of FPSC – FPSC was established and its role in the affairs of personnel
administration and recruitment was decided.
▪ Status of establishment division – Role of Establishment division in the whole system
was decided.
Major problems:
 Over-centralized organizational structure
 Lack of accountability
 Politicization
Proposed Reforms:
 The concept of the superior services should be replaced by an equality of all services
at federal and provincial levels. The terms and conditions of all the services in matters
of recruitment, promotion, career progression, and compensation, would be similar.
Corruption amongst most civil servants cannot be curbed by moral persuasion but by
providing them with an adequate compensation package. To provide equality of
opportunity to all deserving civil servants NES and PES ought to constituted at all
federal and provincial levels. NES should have two streams, general and economic.
Introduction of district service and district government should be strengthened by
establishing linkages between union councils, town committees. There should be
training and educational promotion and efficient promotion criteria.