Islamabad: Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Establishment Division, Senator Ahad Cheema, chaired a meeting focused on the Training Needs Analysis of the National School of Public Policy (NSPP), advocating for a research-based restructuring of its management courses to develop a skilled and technologically capable civil service. Senior officials from the Establishment Division and NSPP participated in the meeting.

According to Press Information Department, during the meeting, Senator Ahad Cheema emphasized the need for reforming the structure and curricula of NSPP’s management courses based on credible research to foster a competency-driven civil service capable of delivering measurable results. The meeting included a briefing on an evidence-based assessment designed to identify critical competency gaps and evaluate whether current training initiatives lead to enhanced workplace performance and better public-service outcomes.

Senator Cheema called for a comprehensive revamp of the exercise to lay the groundwork for curriculum reforms and establish a modern, outcome-oriented civil-service training system. The analysis is expected to identify precise training requirements for civil servants at various stages of their careers, define necessary skill sets, and determine the digital and technological capabilities essential for effective public administration.

The review will also assess the alignment of training programmes with officers’ job responsibilities and national priorities, examining aspects such as policy execution, leadership, accountability, and institutional coordination. Additionally, the Minister advocated for introducing specialized short-duration courses in areas like digital governance, artificial intelligence, and data-driven decision-making.

The assessment will employ structured surveys, interviews, and focus-group discussions to gather data, which will be cross-validated to produce practical recommendations. Utilizing the Kirkpatrick evaluation model, the analysis aims to go beyond participant satisfaction, assessing changes in workplace behavior and job performance. NSPP’s programs will be benchmarked against international standards to ensure competitiveness.

Senator Cheema reiterated the government’s commitment to developing a professional and citizen-focused civil service and urged all stakeholders to collaborate closely to achieve modernized curricula, expanded training opportunities, and enhanced public services for Pakistan.