THE civil bureaucracy in Pakistan may be traced back to the colonial period, representing a historical continuity of administrative frameworks established by the British. The system has evolved into an intricate network of rules, regulations and bureaucratic procedures for several decades. Although it fulfilled its intended function in previous times, the global landscape has undergone a substantial transformation. On the other hand, the bureaucratic system exhibits a predominantly static nature, facing challenges in effectively addressing the needs of a contemporary and forward-thinking society.
The enactment of the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) has drawn criticism due to concerns regarding its encroachment on civilian space and its perceived preference for providing chances exclusively to Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states. During his farewell address to federal secretaries, former Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif acknowledged the significant criticism of the SIFC, namely its potential encroachment into civilian sectors. The individual conveyed to federal secretaries that Gulf countries had expressed their concerns with the sluggishness of administrative processes, which has failed to actualize some grants that Pakistan had received from Gulf States in previous years. According to his statement, the grants remain concealed within the accumulation of bureaucratic documentation.
In addition, Sharif utilized the social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter) on the same day to express that during the meeting, he firmly asserted his belief that the current framework of civil services is inadequate in addressing the demands of government in the 21st century. While there is a surplus of individual brilliance, it has not been effectively translated into overall institutional effectiveness. The communication was unequivocal: The nation’s current mode of governance by the civil administration is unsustainable.
Pakistan has traditionally forged a strong association with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) governments due to their consistent support for Pakistan. Additionally, the geographical proximity of Pakistan and its substantial demand for biofuels have led to a significant reliance on Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states for trade. However, given the unfavourable trade imbalance with Pakistan, it is imperative to address this problem without disregard. Given Pakistan’s limited availability of dependable biofuel supply, primarily sourced from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states, the country is compelled to address a substantial trade deficit through various measures.
Based on the statistics provided by the Observatory of Economic Complexity (OEC) for the year 2021, it is evident that Pakistan’s exports to Saudi Arabia amounted to $472 million, while Saudi Arabia’s exports to Pakistan reached $3.4 billion. This trading relationship resulted in a trade deficit of $3 billion for Pakistan. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) sold items valued at $7.13 billion to Pakistan, while Pakistan’s exports amounted to $1.28 billion, resulting in a trade deficit of around $7 billion. Qatar’s exports to Pakistan amounted to $4.8 billion, while Pakistan’s exports to Qatar were valued at $431 million, resulting in a significant trade deficit of over $3.5 billion. Given the limited timeframe for overhauling its trade sector, Pakistan is currently presenting economic prospects to nations from which it experiences significant imports. This strategic approach is suitable for mitigating the trade deficit with these countries.
One of the rationales behind Pakistan’s emphasis on Gulf countries is its pursuit of strategic economic partnerships by establishing Special Investment and Financial Consortia (SIFC). Emerging from a prolonged period of dormancy, Pakistan has come to acknowledge its precarious position and recognize the imperative to bolster its production sector to provide prospects for the wider region. A nation’s productivity is contingent upon its administrative framework, while Pakistan, without a robust local governance structure, relies significantly on its federal civilian bureaucracy to oversee its provinces. The absence of effective civil administration in the country has led to the military administration assuming responsibility in areas such as trade, commerce and investment, as further experimentation is deemed unaffordable for the economy.
Pakistan requires immediate financial resources and investment to address a lack of confidence among potential investors and to bring about comprehensive reforms within the existing system. Critiquing ad hoc administrative structures is a straightforward task; nevertheless, when a nation is teetering on the brink of insolvency and potential default, the primary objective must be focused on survival, with simultaneous efforts directed towards economic revitalization.
The civil bureaucracy, purportedly a functional entity, has consistently demonstrated its inefficiency and unreliability, characterized by several operational risks. Instead of implementing temporary solutions, a comprehensive overhaul is required. The State Income and Fiscal Commission (SIFC) has the capacity to oversee the revenue generation aspect of Pakistan. However, if the existing administrative bureaucracy remains unchanged, the misappropriation of revenues through excessive spending will persist. If the remaining departments continue to operate under the existing framework that has proven ineffective, then there will be no substantial alterations.
Redefining Pakistan’s bureaucracy is not just an option but necessary for the country’s progress and development. The responsibility for implementing a comprehensive system reform rests with the forthcoming elected administration. The imperative lies in the necessity to either restructure the civil administration to ensure the efficient functioning of the nation or continue to rely on non-civilian entities to address the existing voids. This is crucial as the country must progress through civilian bureaucracy.
—The Writer works as a Researcher with an Islamabad-based policy think tank, the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad.
Email: abuhurrairahah@gmail.com
