Bureaucracy the main hurdle
The meeting was convened to review the new expert driven framework introduced by the Power Division. To achieve efficient and accountable governance, professionalization and decentralization have been adopted. He blamed the institutional inertia in blocking the much-needed reforms in the bureaucracy.
I am not sure whether he was speaking his heart out or was reading the prepared text as he has enjoyed very cordial relationship with the bureaucrats. It is indeed interesting that every ruler starts with the praise of the 'Baboos' but then finally turns against them at the end of their rule. Those who control the files have the final laugh. Worldwide, bureaucrats have been outdated for about half a century. Technocrats have taken over.
Confusion prevails over understanding of the role of these so-called experts who have been called in to replace the obsolete 'Baboos'. I remember my meeting with prime minister Mir Zafarullah Jamali on June 26, 2004. As Chairman Pakistan Science Foundation (PSF) I was invited for my professional input into the Sui Gas project for supply of natural gas to Ziarat. After the formal discussions, I floated the idea of bringing in the 'technocrats' for better governance. Prompt came the reply, 'They are not elected'.
He was misguided by the aides in his Secretariat who surrounded him. I had to explain that technocrats replace bureaucrats not politicians. In a technology-driven complex environment of today 'generalists' cannot deliver they are replaced by individuals with technical background combined with management skills.
Jamali was a well-meaning honest politician; he decided to pursue the option of inducting technocrats in all technical ministries. Fortunately, I was able to leave guidelines for this switch to take place. On a happy note, we left his office around 3pm. On the 9pm news that night it was announced that Jamali had resigned.
Experts do bring technical know-how but cannot understand the bureaucratic loops and the file work unless they have been trained in management in their respective area of expertise,; only such a person qualifies to be a technocrat. Bhutto-style of governance is remembered till today. His file and paperwork were excellent. No 'Baboo' could hide behind the papers/procedures. Files were returned within 24 hours either with approval or written comments by the PM.
Every ministry had a night Section Officer who was responsible for late hours co-ordination as the PM worked round-the-clock. Through lateral entry several technocrats were appointed Federal Secretaries to efficiently run their ministries. Engr Masood Hasan headed the Defence Production Division; Nasim Ahmed was appointed Secretary Information while Dr Muhammad Ajmal, a prominent educationist, took over Education.
The PM is right; bureaucracy is the main hurdle. Institutional inertia is insurmountable. As three-time Chief Minister (CM) of Pakistan's largest province he has a team of loyalists who can bring about the much-sought change provided the 'Baboos' are willing to give up their grip over real power. The big question is: who will bell the cat?
After taking charge as Chairman PSF, in 2002, I decided to call on the minister. After exchange of pleasantries, I requested him to bring in technocrats to run the important ministry of science and technology (MoST).
He was very excited with the idea and asked me to prepare Job Descriptions (JDs) for the top three positions (Secretary, Additional Secretary, Joint Secretary). Within a few days I submitted the JDs but there was no response. As the matter was crucial for the ministry, I decided to meet the minister again.
On inquiry he told me that he had forwarded the JDs to the Secretary for a necessary action. Baffled, I asked him why on earth will the secretary give up his job to be replaced by a technocrat?
The minister had no answer. I could sense his reluctance to take on the 'Baboos'. My parting suggestion to him was to get approval of the President and hire technocrats for the three positions on open merit to set the ball rolling but he shied away. Till today MoST remains ineffective, several of its affiliated departments are either being shut down or without professional leadership.
Accountability remains a buzz-word only to please the galleries. Bureaucracy has been able to dodge all forms of checks to its un-limited authority. Major recommendations to reform the bureaucracy were prepared by Justice A. R. Cornelius Commission in the decade of the sixties. Justice Cornelius was himself a Civil Servant, who rose through the ranks of judiciary to reach the position of Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP).
He understood the importance of introducing accountability to contain executive abuse. His recommendations were hijacked by the powerful bureaucrats of their times before they could be implemented. Finally, his inputs were enacted in the 1972 interim constitution as article 216 for the formation of Administrative Accountability Courts. In the permanent 1973 version taxation was removed and a toned-done article 212 was included.
The courts were never established. Finally, in 1979, the entire article was removed through a Martial Law Act. Bureaucracy prevailed as always. Lt-Gen. Ghulam Jillani Khan as Governor Punjab proposed the idea of 'Citizen's Desks' for the redressal of public complaints but there was no implementation. According to Jillani Sb, the President wanted to preserve status-quo to prolong his rule, reforms were not part of his agenda.
Yes, indeed hurdles must be removed. It is not only Pakistan, all the 56 colonial states left by the British continue to suffer. De-colonization must take place. In a democratic country people are respected as customers. With well-entrenched bureaucracy it is an up-hill task which must be challenged with a firm resolve to serve not rule as has been the case. 'Kadam Baraho' is the standard slogans of the Sharifs.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Business Recorder
an hour ago
- Business Recorder
Working in silos will not do
EDITORIAL: The energy sector's complex web is becoming increasingly difficult to manage as authorities continue to attempt to solve issues in silos, an approach that only complicates the problems. Currently, the Energy Task Force (ETF) and the Power and Petroleum Divisions are developing their own solutions without considering their interconnectivity and interdependence. With the power sector's push, backed by the IMF, captive power plants are being subjected to hefty levies on gas consumption. The objective is to transition industrial consumers to the grid, which is being partially achieved. The logical consequence should have been a higher off-take of RLNG by the power sector, but that is not happening, leaving expensive gas unused, which contributes to the circular debt of gas, excessive pressure on the pipelines, and lower off-take of cheap domestic gas. Reportedly, when the Petroleum Division urged the Power Division to increase its intake of RLNG, the minister replied that it would not commit a grave sin (gunnah-e-kabeera) by violating the economic merit order (EMO). The minister was behaving like a principled man, but such discipline was regrettably found lacking when the levy imposed (at peak rates for the entire day) was even higher than what the IMF had prescribed. The Discos (working under the Power Division) are being blamed for Rs 240 billion of overbilling to poor consumers, who are already paying for the inefficiencies of the government. The minister is silent on this issue that is beginning to become increasingly conspicuous. This selective amnesia does not stop here. The power minister is pushing his petroleum counterpart to review RLNG buying contracts with Qatar, asking to emulate what the Power Division has done with the IPPs. How naïve is it to even suggest this remedy. First, it would be tantamount to openly disregarding the sanctity of sovereign contracts. Second, it tends to advocate and normalise coercive actions that were employed against local IPP owners, a stance that has severely undermined investor confidence. Third, it demands breaking contractual commitments with international investors, despite the Power Division and ETF's own failures — even they could not persuade Chinese IPPs to waive the late payment interest (LPI) on outstanding dues, casting uncertainty over the Rs 1.3 trillion circular debt reduction plan. And the cherry on the top is that EMO that is being termed 'holy' while others are being advised to violate (or revise) sovereign contracts. Not only is buying RLNG from Qatar a necessity, but running RLNG plants to a specific limit is also necessary. It is a problem of double standards and a lack of understanding of the core issues. What the government is required to focus on is why the power demand is falling, as the off-take from the grid is still 11 percent shy of its peak in FY22. The need is to address the issue of solar net metering — where rates should be revised by adjusting solar pricing for new net metering contracts (with no change in existing rates) — has been identified, yet the necessary action has not been taken. The power ministry fears a public backlash over solar net metering, while the public is being cheated by entities under its domain by engaging in overbilling at the same time. Suffice it to say that the direly needed clarity of thought and objectivity in the solutions being proposed are simply missing. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Express Tribune
2 days ago
- Express Tribune
Old power plants' scrap sold for Rs46.7b
Thermal power projects of 4,000MW capacity had been abandoned by China under the economic corridor project and Pakistan government was now trying to divert that investment to hydroelectric power projects. PHOTO: FILE Listen to article The Power Division has completed the sale of scrap from 61 old and non-functional government-owned thermal power plants, generating Rs46.73 billion, which was higher than the original reserve price. According to the Power Division, the auction process was carried out in two phases. Experts from the State Bank of Pakistan helped determine the reserve price, which was set at Rs45.82 billion. The final sale price surpassed expectations, reaching Rs46.73 billion. In the first phase, scrap from 31 units was sold for Rs8.47 billion against a reserve price of Rs7.59 billion. All contracts with successful private bidders have been finalised. In the second phase, 30 additional units were sold for Rs38.25 billion, marginally above the reserve price of Rs38.22 billion. This phase also concluded with the execution of all agreements. Among the power plants included in the second phase were Jamshoro Block I & II, Guddu II, Sukkur, Quetta, Muzaffargarh Block I & II and Faisalabad. Permanent staff from these plants is being redeployed across different electricity distribution companies to utilise their skills more effectively. A spokesperson for the Power Division emphasised that these outdated and idle plants had long burdened the national exchequer, costing billions annually. With their successful offloading, the government has eliminated recurring expenses and capacity charges that were previously passed on to electricity consumers through monthly bills. The initiative, undertaken under the directives of the prime minister, is being hailed as a significant reform milestone. It not only relieves fiscal pressure but also offers direct benefits to consumers, marking a practical step towards long-term energy sector sustainability.
Business Recorder
3 days ago
- Business Recorder
Leghari tells World Bank delegation: CTBCM to enter final phase in two months
ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Power, Sardar Awais Ahmad Khan Leghari, has announced that the Competitive Trading Bilateral Contract Market (CTBCM) will enter its final implementation phase within the next two months. The Minister made this statement during a meeting with a high-level World Bank delegation, led by Ousmane Dione, the Regional Vice President for the Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan, and Pakistan. The Power Division had earlier informed representatives of nearly a dozen development partners that the commercial operations of CTBCM are expected to begin by the end of September 2025. CTBCM: Commercial operations may begin by Sept-end The long-awaited policy will allow Bulk Power Consumers (BPCs) — those with a demand of 1MW or more — to procure electricity through independent bilateral contracts with competitive suppliers, sources told Business Recorder. According to the Power Division, the framework for viable open access charges (wheeling) and a transparent mechanism for allocating wheeling quantum are in the final stages of development. The operationalization of the Independent System and Market Operator (ISMO) will play a critical role in facilitating CTBCM implementation. Minister Leghari explained that CTBCM will enable free trade of electricity within the market. Under this model, wheeling charges and other mechanisms are being introduced, while the government's role will be confined to regulation. He emphasized that the transition will be gradual, guided by a comprehensive strategy to ensure system stability. During the meeting, Leghari provided the World Bank delegation with a detailed briefing on Pakistan's energy reforms, including the net metering policy, privatization efforts, regulatory enhancements, and investment opportunities. He underscored that Pakistan's policy direction is clearly focused on encouraging private sector participation and enhancing transparency, with an open invitation to international investors to join this transformation. Ousmane Dione welcomed the energy sector reforms and highlighted the critical role of energy in national development. He reaffirmed the World Bank's continued support for Pakistan, emphasizing its commitment to fostering a sustainable, reliable, and investment-friendly energy system. The Federal Minister also presented the delegation with a comprehensive booklet detailing ongoing reforms in the energy sector and expressed optimism that the partnership between Pakistan and the World Bank would continue to strengthen. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
