Government Unveils Plan for ‘Smart Civil Service’ to Enhance Efficiency and Public Service Delivery

Federal Minister Ahsan Iqbal stated that Pakistan’s existing civil service structure is no longer equipped to address the complexities of modern governance. He announced that the government is working on a “smart civil service model” designed to emphasize performance, innovation, and technology-driven administration.

Speaking at the opening session of a three-day international conference titled “Local Realities and Regional Futures: Transforming Public Administration and Management in South Asia,” held at Punjab University’s Riazuddin Auditorium, Ahsan Iqbal highlighted the urgent need to reform Pakistan’s governance system. The event was jointly organized by the Punjab University Institute of Administrative Sciences (IAS) and the South Asian Network for Public Administration (SANPA).

The minister said that effective governance in the 21st century requires specialized expertise, transparency, and digital transformation. “The era of generalist skills is over,” he remarked. “Pakistan now needs a results-oriented civil service that rewards merit, values innovation, and remains committed to public service.” He explained that the new model will link recruitment and training to professional qualifications, while promotions will be based on performance, leadership, and learning capacity.

Ahsan Iqbal also suggested that Punjab University establish ‘public policy labs’ to bring students and policymakers together in solving real governance issues. He further proposed creating a ‘South Asian Governance Innovation Network’ to promote collaboration and knowledge exchange across the region.

Bangladesh’s Chief Advisor Special Assistant, Prof Dr Anisuzzaman Chowdhury, emphasized that reforms must be grounded in local realities rather than borrowed frameworks. He noted that the pursuit of high-paying positions had undermined governance and stressed improving Pakistan’s tax-to-GDP ratio to reduce dependence on foreign aid.

Punjab University Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Muhammad Ali Shah questioned why Pakistan’s administrative structure has remained static since independence. He pointed out that “public servants were not truly serving the public” and suggested the need for a complete overhaul similar to Bangladesh’s governance reforms. He also warned that Western administrative models cannot be directly applied in Pakistan, as the existing system “empowers the powerful and weakens the poor.”

The conference was attended by Bangladeshi High Commissioner Iqbal Hussain Khan, IAS Director Prof Dr Kashif Rathore, SANPA representative Prof Dr Ikhlaq Haq, Prof Dr Yamina Salman, as well as numerous students, academics, and policy experts.