Senate panel discusses reforms to strengthen civil service, governance

ISLAMABAD: The Senate Standing Committee on Cabinet Secretariat decided to seek the final opinion of the Establishment Division on the Private members bill “Civil Servants Amendment Bill 2024’ introduced by Senator Qurat-ul-Ain Marri, which proposes a 10pc quota for women and 5pc for minorities in the civil service, in the next meeting of the committee.

The Civil Servants Amendment Bill 2024 sparked considerable debate as the bill, which proposes a 10pc quota for women and 5pc for minorities in the civil service, aims to promote inclusivity and diversity within Pakistan's public administration. In a meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Cabinet Secretariat, chaired by Senator Rana Mahmood ul Hassan at Parliament House on Friday, significant progress was made on several key legislative issues and ongoing reforms within the federal bureaucracy.

The Senate Committee on Cabinet Secretariat also engaged in an extensive discussion on the state of performance checks for civil servants as Senator Sadia Abbasi expressed concerns over the current methods employed by agencies, noting their negative impact on civil service efficiency. In response, Special Secretary of the Establishment Division Ms Sara Saeed provided insight into the ongoing reforms, highlighting the establishment of a Civil Services Reform Committee which includes federal ministers such as Ahsan Iqbal, Musadik Malik and senior secretaries. She informed the committee that 1,875 officers out of 4,943 had been promoted over the past four years, reflecting progress in personnel development.

The Division has also abolished 61 posts under a rightsizing initiative aimed at improving efficiency. In further developments, Senator Abdul Qadir raised concerns regarding the salaries of civil servants, advocating for a salary increase to enhance performance.