Changing bureaucratic mindset

Any speculation that Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar could lose his job has been squashed. Prime Minister Imran Khan has expressed full faith and confidence in Buzdar’s leadership and ability to complete his full term at the province’s top political office. He has praised Buzdar claiming that the Punjab CM is honest, saves money by not indulging in extravagant expenses, and gets things done without any show or pomp.  So Buzdar will stay but those below him have been sent packing.

The prime minister ordered a massive reshuffle in the provincial bureaucracy, replacing at least 134 officers, including the chief secretary and inspector-general police. The decision was expected as the prime minister was dissatisfied with the administrative structure in the province and had ordered removal of the provincial civil servants hindering the government’s performance.

The first major change came at the top as both the chief secretary and the IGP were replaced allowing them to bring their own teams in police and administration. The PTI government believes that many bureaucrats and officers still have their loyalties towards the PML-N and are creating hurdles in the performance of the incumbent government.

This comes with a warming from the prime minister telling bureaucrats to change their ‘old mindset’. During a day-long visit to the provincial capital, the premier told senior bureaucrats and police officers that the old system cannot work in ‘Naya Pakistan.’ The bureaucracy turns the wheels of the government and has an important role in the economic development of the country.

The PTI government has struggled to change the status quo in the provinces. The previous ruling PML-N made no effort to bring administrative or police reforms and invested in legacy-building development projects. The prime minister has directed the bureaucracy to discharge their duties with merit and fulfill responsibilities improving the life of the people. The government has not brought much needed police reforms and police brutality still continues unabated rather than serving the masses.

Emboldened that his job is secure, Buzdar has said that elements hatching conspiracies to create instability in Punjab will not succeed. He stated that those wanting a clash of institutions will see failure. Buzdar maybe a political novice but he has rightly stated that corruption has ruined different departments in the past and eradicating it remains an arduous task for the government. Let’s hope that the reshuffled administration will now help the provincial government succeed.