Reengineering the civil service
The room is packed with an eager audience of journalists. Advocate Khurshid Hassan Meer, newly-appointed minister for establishment of the PPP, is presenting his government’s plan for reengineering the country’s…
Civil service reforms that work
The newly-installed PTI government has constituted a task force on civil-service reforms. Over the years our governments have tried a number of times to reform the civil service but for…
Politicisation of civil services
Last week we had commented on the 'obvious and not so obvious' issues of civil service reforms, suggesting the civil service is often the victim of 'friendly fire'. We had…
China: a tale of civilisation: Part – I
Every civilisation develops in its own environment and acquires a different identity and characteristics. As a result, we find a unique character in China’s civilisation that is different from other…
Of civil and military relations
As the baton has now passed to Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa, there is no shortage of free advice consisting of dos’ and don’ts for the new army chief. While some…
It is the civil service, stupid
Pakistan must be the world's top ranked country in setting up commissions. Some time bound (Hamoodur Rehman, Abbottabad), whose reports are never released, just leaked; some in perpetuity (flood, relief,…
Civil-military imbalance
The ISPR press release after the corps commanders meeting, has generated unnecessary controversy over civil-military relations. It has surprised many, especially in the backdrop of the frequent huddles between the…
Terminology matters
The recent decision by Al Jazeera English to use the word ’refugees’ instead of ’migrants’ to describe the thousands of people who risk their lives to make dangerous journeys to…
Space for civil society
“If leaders do not listen to their people, they will hear from them — in the streets, the squares, or, as we see far too often, on the battlefield. There…
Civil-military imbalance
The security establishment is firmly in the driving seat. It is calling the shots with respect to the multiple internal security challenges facing the nation. Caught in a political quagmire,…
