Shehbaz Govt Revisits Imran Khan’s Civil Service Reforms For Bureaucratic Overhaul

The Shehbaz Sharif-led government is revisiting civil service reforms proposed during Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) tenure. These reforms, crafted by the Task Force on Civil Service Reform under Ishrat Husain, aimed to modernize Pakistan’s bureaucracy through structural, procedural, and incentive-based changes.

Key Proposed Reforms

Changes to CSS Examination

The reforms suggested revamping the Central Superior Services (CSS) examination by introducing:
– A preliminary screening test
– Cluster-based exams for specific domains
– Psychometric evaluations and structured interviews
– Increased automation

Despite these recommendations, the overhaul was not implemented during the PTI government.

Improved Training Regimen

The Task Force proposed specialized and mandatory training for civil servants, but only mid-career and senior management courses saw partial implementation.

Performance Evaluation Overhaul

A shift from the subjective Annual Confidential Report (ACR) to an objective Performance Evaluation Report (PER) with clear KPIs was recommended. Although performance agreements between the Prime Minister and ministers were introduced, the civil servants’ evaluation system remained largely unchanged.

Reforms with Partial Implementation

Mandatory Retirement and Pension System

Underperforming officials were subject to mandatory retirement after 20 years of service, a policy later reversed by the PDM government. For pensions, a shift to a defined contribution plan for new entrants was implemented.

Compensation and Technical Recruitment

Monetizing perks like housing and transport for grades 17-22 and linking salary increments to performance were proposed but left unimplemented. The recommendation to recruit technical experts through a competitive process saw limited execution.

Opportunities for Bureaucratic Transformation

The current government now has an opportunity to implement these unfulfilled reforms, which could bring significant improvements to Pakistan’s civil service.