Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal has stressed the need for comprehensive reforms in the country’s administrative structure, saying the existing system must evolve in line with changing public needs and prevailing circumstances.
Addressing a gathering at the District Bar Association in Narowal, his hometown, the minister said retaining an administrative system designed five decades ago was no longer appropriate, as the country’s population, resources and global environment had undergone significant changes over that period.
He emphasised that administrative reforms were a continuous process and should not be halted under any circumstances, adding that the structure must be transformed to keep pace with public needs and changing circumstances.
The minister called on political leaders to engage in dialogue and develop consensus on key national issues, saying collective efforts could pave the way for meaningful reforms in the country’s administrative framework. He said administrative reforms could be facilitated through national dialogue, and urged politicians to sit together and build consensus in the broader national interest.
According to reports of the address, the minister said the government believes in the rule of law and the independence of the judiciary, adding that the supremacy of law is a guarantee of national development.
He also described the legal fraternity as a strong pillar of democracy, playing an important role in ensuring the delivery of justice to the public, and said cooperation between the bar and the bench would further strengthen the justice system.
The remarks come as the government continues to discuss restructuring of the administrative and civil service framework. The Planning Ministry has been part of consultations on civil service reform, and a prime ministerial committee on the subject has been reported to have prepared 46 recommendations, with agreement reached on 43 of them, according to reports.
Iqbal has previously argued that Pakistan’s governance structure needs a stronger third tier, telling a consultation on governance reforms that the country should either create additional provinces or establish effective district governments to improve service delivery, according to reports of that session.
