A Book Review
on:
ROLE OF HIGHER CIVIL SERVANTS IN PAKISTAN, by
Dr. Ali Ahmed

Completed by:
Mohad. Habib Imtiaz Nooree,
Department of Peace & Conflict Studies,
University of Dhaka.
Web: www.monerbari.org
E-mail: Imtiaz.du@gmail.com
Basic Information

Work : Role of Higher Civil Servants in Pakistan
Writer :Dr. Ali Ahmed
B.A. (Econ.)(Manchester), M.A. (Dacca), Ph.D. (Bristol)
Published : 1968, National Institute of Public Administration (Dacca)
Language : English
Edition : 1st ed.
Pagination : xvi, 502, [3] p.
Chapter : 07 (Seven)
Published by : Sheikh Sirajuddin, Publication Officer,
On behalf of National Institute of Public Administration, NIPA Building, Dacca University Campus, Nilkhet, Dacca -2
Printed by : Md. Mobarak Ali, Paramount Press,
9 Hatkhola Road, Dacca – 3
Remarks : Thesis approved for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy at the University of Bristol.

A Review on:
Role of Higher Civil Servants in Pakistan
Dr. Ali Ahmed

This book is one of the major studies by a Pakistani Scholar Dr. Ali Ahmed to explore and evaluate the roles and problems of the Higher Public Servants in Pakistan. On this study Mr. Ahmed intended to try his best to expose a depth and elaborate knowledge of Higher Civil Servants from Historical events to present incidents in Pakistan. Dr. Ali Ahmed also succeed to point out the ways in which would need to be modified to suit the growing needs of the then Pakistani Government committed to programs of Economic and Social Development.

The original personnel of the Pakistan Administrative Service were a legacy from the British. The British were indeed alien colonial rulers, but the administrative system which they built up, maintained and developed over many generations had become, by 1947, an integral part of the social and political structure of British India. As it included, in the last years steadily increasing numbers of Indian members, so it was adapting itself in preparation for the time when it would be no longer under colonial control. On becoming independent neither India nor Pakistan wished to dismantle the machinery. Each built on the same foundation. Indeed, though there have been changes during the last twenty years the changes are remarkable for their smallness. The modern civil service of Pakistan cannot be understood without some examination of its background in British India. For this reason Mr. Ahmed had tried to introduce and recall the background in British India.

Subject matter, those introduced in this book is not only important for Pakistan but also the progressive countries of the world who try to make economic and social development of their countries. The subject matter of this book has been arranged in seven special chapters. Each chapter contains different importance for Higher Civil Servants. Again, some of the chapters are divided into two or three parts.
Before having the description of the Chapters, first of all, I would like to introduce the title of the seven chapters of the book ‘Role of Higher Civil Servants in Pakistan’ written by Dr. Ali Ahmed. The Chapters are:

Chapter – I: Background of Civil Service in British India
Chapter – II: Structure of Government
Chapter – III: Role of Higher Civil Servants
Chapter – IV: Recruitment of Higher Civil Servants
Chapter – V: Training of Higher Civil Servants
Chapter – VI: Moral of Higher Civil Servants
Chapter –VII: Conclusion

Chapter – I: Background of Civil Service in British India
The First chapter is divided into two parts. Both parts are equally necessary for the civil servants.

The first Part:
It contains a discussion of the origin and development of the work of higher civil servants in British India. In the first part the writer described the Mercantile Stage (1601-1772), Foundation of Modern Civil Service (1712-1793), Provisions for Training and open Competition (1793-1853) and Regularization of Service (1861). In this Part, Mr. Ahmed briefly described the Conditions of Service, Administrative Machinery and the works of the Civil Service of Mercantile Stage, reforms of Warren Hastings and Cornwallis, training and open competition for civil servants etc. Part- I is necessary because the civil service of Pakistan not only originated and developed form, but also has been maintaining the traditions set by, the British Indian Service. I think, Mr. Ahmed has described this part because of without having good knowledge about the origin and development of this discipline no detail study is possible.

The Second Part:
This part indicates how the British elements in the Higher Civil Service of India were decreasing gradually in number leaving the administration to be taken over ultimately by the Pakistani ones. In this Part, Mr. Ahmed briefly described the Indianisation of Higher Civil Service which captures The Act of 1793, 1833, 1853, transfer of Power and Queen’s Proclamation (1858), various attempts at Indianisation (1858-1869), The Act of 1870 and Statutory Civil Service, Recommendations of the Public Service Commission (1886-1887), Recommendations of the Royal Commission on the Public Services in India (1917), Recommendations of the Authors of the Report on Indian Constitutional Reforms (1918), Recommendations of the Royal Commission on the Superior Civil Services in India (1924), Recommendations of the Indian Statutory Commission (1930), Recommendations of the Joint Committee on Indian Constitutional Reforms (1934), The Government of India Act, 1935 and transfer of Power. This part gives a complete guide for the present and future.

Chapter – II: Structure of Government
The second chapter also has two parts.

The first Part:
This part describes the changes in the Constitutional Structure of the Government of Pakistan and explains the position of higher civil servants in it. In this Part, Mr. Ahmed briefly described the Interim Constitution (1947-1956), The Constitution of the First Republic (1956-1958), Military Government (1958-1962), The Constitution of the Second Republic from 1962 onwards, civil service in the constitution, All Pakistan Civil Service Vis-à-vis the Federal Principle etc.

The Second Part:
The Second Part describes the administrative structure and indicates the post occupied by higher civil servants in it. It broadly describes the Central Secretariat, Tenure System, Attached Offices of Central Administration, Difference between Ministries in the Secretariat and attaches Offices, relation between the permanent head of a Ministry and the head on an attached office, cabinet Secretariat; Provincial Secretariat and attached Offices, Chief Secretary, Administrative Division in a Province, Office of the Commissioner, Office of the Deputy Commissioner, or the District Magistrate and Controller, Posts of Higher Civil Servants under the Central and Provincial Administrations.

  Chapter – III: Role of Higher Civil Servants

This chapter includes an analysis of the role of higher civil servants. It has also two parts.

The first Part:
It contains the role of higher civil servants as secretariats of Ministries in the Secretariats. The first part of the Chapter-III contains administrative policy, general administration and control, Parliamentary business, e.g. Legislation, Finance, and Parliamentary Questions, Emerging Role and Economic Planning etc.

The Second Part:
This part contains civil servants role as Divisional and District Officers. It briefly includes democracy of Union, Thana, District and Divisional Council, role of higher civil servants as heads of districts, traditional functions of Collectors, Magistrate, Supervisor and Coordinator, Director of Local Self Government, an official with Political and Social Functions and his role in miscellaneous functions, emerging role and problems of Deputy Commissioner’s role.
This chapter is the keystone of the whole work. This, in course of outlining the role of higher civil servants, indicates two important factors: extent of bureaucratic influence over the administration as a whole; success of higher civil servants, both at the central and local levels, in shouldering the new and the old responsibilities.

Chapter – IV: Recruitment of Higher Civil Servants
The fourth chapter deals with recruitment of Higher Civil servants which includes public service commission, methods of recruiting Higher Civil Servants (Direct Method- open competition, basis of open competition: written examination, viva voce examination, psychological examination, medical examination, new techniques of direct recruitment etc; Indirect Method: promotion from provincial civil service to superior civil service etc. )

Chapter – V: Training of Higher Civil Servants
The fifth chapter deals with training higher civil servants in Pakistan. This chapter elaborately includes – Post-Entry Training, In-service Training and proper use of In-service Training facilities. These are added because these are the most essential prerequisites for the successful working of higher civil servants. These indicate how far the Government of Pakistan has been able to make suitable provisions for meeting these two requirements with special reference to the new and progressive administration greatly concerned with the development of the country.

Chapter – VI: Moral of Higher Civil Servants
It’s an important chapter for the higher civil servants which are related with their morality. In includes Government Servant Conduct Rules, Corruption and its causes (Social, Political and economic causes), remedies of corruption, rules regarding political role (e.g. UK, Pakistan etc.), suggested remedies etc. For no country can prosper in any respects unless its administrators are free from corruption in the discharge of their official duties. This requires a special allegations from the different sources against the corrupt practices of civil servants.

Chapter –VII: Conclusion
In the last chapter Mr. Ahmed presented some concluding remarks.

What I have learnt from the Book

‘Role of Higher Civil Servants in Pakistan’?

As a MSS student of Public Administration, I have gathered vast knowledge about the role of higher civil servants in Pakistan. I think, every student and academician, especially from Asian Region should have read this book.

Before reading this book, my conception about the background of civil service in British India was not clear. This book helps me to have a clear understanding about this special topic. I have also learnt about various law since 1793 to independence of Pakistan exercised in British-India-Pakistan. Now the topics-‘Structure of Government’, ‘Role of Higher Civil Servants’, ‘Recruitment of Higher Civil Servants’, ‘Training of Higher Civil Servants’, ‘ Morale of Higher Civil Servants’ etc.

I think this book can be a Bible for the administrators.

From the reading of the book, I have some special comments (it may be recommendations also) for the administrators as well as politicians. I would like to express those:

i. Political parties and higher civil servants should be more fare, corruption free, patriotic, and responsible for the running of better administration of the country.
ii. Leaders of all parties should jointly declare and swear that they won’t attempt to use governments or the influence of Government servants would probably be used.
iii. Civil servants should be impartial and neutral at the time of elections.
iv. People should be given primary, political and moral education.

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Mohad. Habib Imtiaz Nooree,
Department of Peace & Conflict Studies,
University of Dhaka,
Web: www.monerbari.org,
E-mail: Imtiaz.du@gmail.com