For years, Pakistan has grappled with a governance structure rooted in outdated practices, hindering its ability to evolve in a fast-paced world. A new report from the Pakistan Institute of Development Economics (PIDE) highlights the critical inefficiencies plaguing the country’s governance framework, primarily pointing to the 1973 Rules of Business and Secretariat Instructions as a core issue.

In an age of rapid global advancement, Pakistan’s federal processes still rely heavily on manual systems, stalling progress and compromising the nation’s ability to tackle pressing challenges. This report underlines the urgency for reforms that are long overdue. It articulates the imperative for an extensive overhaul and rejuvenation of the governance framework, shedding light on the systemic bottlenecks that stifle Pakistan’s pursuit of sustainable economic growth.

In the report entitled “Modernizing Governance: Challenges and Solutions in Pakistan’s Rules of Business and Secretariat Instructions”, critical inefficiencies within Pakistan’s governmental apparatus are dissected. This comprehensive analysis not only addresses these governance challenges but also proposes pragmatic solutions rooted in global best practices to modernize administrative operations.

The report underscores a glaring reality: while Pakistan’s Rules of Business, originating in 1973, and the Secretariat Instructions are foundational to federal governance, they have not undergone the necessary evolution to meet contemporary demands. A staggering 80% of federal workflows remain shackled to archaic, manual systems, engendering significant delays in decision-making and policy execution. Furthermore, centralised approval structures contribute to up to 60% of these delays, entangling ministries in a web of inefficiency.

Excessive bureaucracy, identified as a formidable impediment, delays more than half of all federal decisions, with only a scant 10% of officials facing any form of accountability for these procedural inefficiencies. More than 70% of inter-ministerial communications experience delays due to the same centralised control mechanisms, perpetuating a governance model that is slow, unresponsive, and devoid of accountability.

To counter these systemic inefficiencies, the report advocates for a series of reforms, calibrated to align Pakistan’s governance with international standards. Notably, nations that have modernized their public administration have witnessed efficiency gains of up to 40%. The proposed reforms include streamlining federal systems, which could slash delays by 50-60%, and instituting organisational restructures that have the potential to expedite decision-making by 30%.

Moreover, the report stresses the necessity of enforcing accountability protocols, where penalties for noncompliance could enhance operational efficiency by at least 20%. It also champions the adoption of New Public Management (NPM) and Post-NPM models, aligning Pakistan’s governance architecture with global examples, promising efficiency increases of 40-50%—a transformation observed in countries that have undergone similar reforms.

The urgency for these reforms cannot be overstated. Without modernization, Pakistan will remain mired in inefficiency and a pervasive lack of accountability, which not only hampers economic growth but also undermines public trust in governmental institutions.

Given the stark revelations in the report, particularly the assertion that over half of all federal decisions are stymied by excessive bureaucracy, it becomes evident that the bureaucratic apparatus itself is less of a solution and more of an obstacle in addressing the inefficiencies entrenched within Pakistan’s governance system.

The report echoes what has been pointed out repeatedly over the years—that Pakistan’s 1973 Rules of Business and Secretariat Instructions, while fundamental to federal governance, have failed to evolve in line with modern administrative needs. It is almost unfathomable that, well into the 21st century, more than 80% of federal processes still rely on antiquated, manual systems. This backward approach significantly hampers both decision-making and policy implementation.

In an age where you would never trust companies relying on outdated technology to meet your needs or schools with obsolete curricula to educate your children, how can one expect a state functioning like it’s still the early 20th century to effectively govern? It’s no wonder that while other nations have surged ahead, Pakistan seems to be regressing, especially in a century marked by rapid technological and institutional advances.

Even more shocking is that centralised approval systems alone account for nearly 60% of these avoidable delays, creating bottlenecks that spread across ministries. As anticipated, the report reveals that fewer than 10% of officials are held accountable for these inefficiencies, perpetuating a culture of unproductivity.

Pakistan’s civil service has become a symbol of inefficiency, seemingly by design. Not only does it resist reform efforts, but it also shelters officials who ensure the system continues to operate as it did a century ago. The report highlights inefficiencies in “inter-divisional consultation,” pointing out that over 70% of inter-ministerial communications are delayed by outdated, centralised processes. These issues have been brought to light many times, yet every attempt to reform them has been fiercely resisted by the bureaucracy itself. As the report bemoans, this has resulted in a “slow and unresponsive governance system” devoid of the accountability necessary for effective administration.

The solutions to these problems are not unknown. Experts and stakeholders have been advocating for reforms for years. However, every time a government tries to address bureaucratic inefficiencies seriously, the civil service itself sabotages these efforts, deploying a level of efficiency that is otherwise absent from its daily operations. Clearly, it has no desire to move beyond the colonial-era model of bureaucracy, where officials enjoy perks and privileges with little to no accountability.

One can only hope that this report serves as a wake-up call for those in Islamabad, before the bureaucracy manages to bury it in a corner where it will gather dust indefinitely. Bureaucratic reform is no longer an option—it is a necessity. Yet, time and again, governments have delayed these critical changes, to the detriment of the entire country.

The need for bureaucratic reform in Pakistan is no longer a matter of debate—it is an imperative for the country’s survival and progress. While the solutions are well-known and experts have long advocated for them, the resistance from within the system has perpetuated a cycle of inefficiency and unaccountability. The latest report serves as a clarion call for change, and one can only hope it stirs action before it, too, is buried by the very bureaucracy it seeks to reform. Without decisive steps to modernize governance, Pakistan risks further regression, and the cost will be borne by the nation as a whole.