Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives, Professor Ahsan Iqbal, stated on Thursday that Pakistan’s existing civil service system is “unable to cope with the issues of the modern era,” as a new generation, empowered by technology, is challenging traditional democratic models and demanding constant accountability.
Addressing the inaugural session of a three-day international conference at Punjab University, the minister announced that a “Smart Civil Service Model” utilizing technology will be introduced to establish a better system of governance in the country, according to the university statement issued today.
The event, titled ‘Local Realities and Regional Futures Transforming Public Administration and Management in South Asia,’ was organized by the university”s Institute of Administrative Sciences (IAS) in collaboration with the South Asian Network for Public Administration (SANPA). Dignitaries including Bangladeshi High Commissioner Iqbal Hussain Khan and Prof Dr Anisuzzaman Chowdhury of Western Sydney University were in attendance.
Minister Iqbal remarked that modern governance is both complex and decisive, requiring agility, innovation, and result-oriented frameworks instead of rigid, outdated structures. “In the past, citizens would cast their votes and wait for the next elections, but now voters remain active and demand accountability,” he noted.
He elaborated on the government”s reform initiatives, highlighting the proposed Smart Civil Service Model designed to transform the bureaucracy. Under the new system, recruitment and training will be linked to professional expertise, while promotions will be contingent on performance, leadership, and learning capacity. The focus will shift from mere rule-compliance to tangible result-delivery.
The minister stressed that the era of “generalist skills” is over and that Pakistan requires a civil service that rewards performance and embraces innovation. He added that the reforms, seriously reinitiated under Prime Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif, would ensure representation from all provinces and social classes, with digital technology playing a central role in promoting transparency.
Urging academic involvement, Iqbal proposed that Punjab University establish public policy labs for collaborative problem-solving and also suggested a “South Asian Governance Innovation Network” for regional knowledge sharing. He linked these reforms to ambitious national goals, stating that Pakistan must become a “smart nation” to achieve a one-trillion-dollar economy by 2035.
“Institutions cannot change overnight, but delaying reforms is equivalent to rejecting reforms,” the minister asserted. “We owe it to our youth, taxpayers, and the future of our country.” Speaking at the conference, Dr Anisuzzaman Chowdhury from Bangladesh emphasized that solutions to local problems must be rooted in local realities. He observed that a weak tax system forces Pakistan to seek IMF support and urged citizens to play an active role in holding their governments accountable.
Punjab University Vice-Chancellor, Prof Dr Muhammad Ali, delivered a critical assessment, questioning whether Pakistan had ever genuinely attempted to change its post-colonial administrative setup. He warned that any reform effort would face resistance from the bureaucracy and suggested that, like Bangladesh, Pakistan might need to “restart” its entire system.
Prof Ali argued that governance models from developed nations are unsuitable for Pakistan, where the poor constitute the majority, unlike in Western countries. He called for a locally designed, people-centered governance model, as the current system “empowers the powerful and weakens the poor,” and urged universities to take a proactive role in driving this transformation.