Islamabad: In an effort to establish a specialized, merit-based, and accountable civil service in Pakistan, Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal spearheaded a multi-party consultative session on civil service reforms. The meeting brought together political leaders, policy experts, and sectoral stakeholders to foster a national consensus on long-term institutional reforms.

According to Press Information Department, the framework for civil service reforms, highlighted by Minister Iqbal, aims to create a technology-enabled public administration capable of addressing Pakistan’s contemporary development challenges. This framework was developed through approximately 15 sessions of the Prime Minister’s Committee on Civil Service Reforms, which resulted in 46 recommendations. Of these, 43 have received broad agreement, while the remaining points will be refined through further consultation.

The session saw the participation of notable figures including Senator Saleem Mandviwalla, Federal Minister Abdul Aleem Khan, and former federal minister Asad Umar, among others. The goal was to garner political and institutional support for reforms that promise long-term impacts on state structure and performance. Minister Iqbal pointed out that Pakistan’s administrative framework, rooted in colonial systems, requires evolution to meet modern economic, social, and technological needs.

Key features proposed for a modern civil service include professional recruitment, meritocratic leadership, accountability for results, inclusive recruitment, and technological enablement. The proposed framework emphasizes the necessity of officers with sector-specific expertise and qualifications, reflecting on global practices from countries like Australia and the UK.

Participants acknowledged the importance of a bipartisan approach to civil service reforms, stressing the need for continuity and implementation discipline. Asad Umar remarked that successful implementation of these reforms could define Minister Iqbal’s legacy, suggesting the reforms be named the Ahsan Iqbal Committee/Report. The meeting underscored the significance of enduring political consensus in realizing a modern, professional, and citizen-focused civil service essential for Pakistan’s development goals in the digital age.