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Abstract
Bureaucracy is an essential mechanism cum system for the effective functioning of any state system. It provides continuity in management and governance of public affairs. In case of Pakistan, the system has passed through various stages of reforms and restructuring but could not come up to serve the people as envisaged. Its manipulation under various political and non-political regimes made it corrupt, inefficient and worthless. It needs remedy and reforms to re-raising so that state benefits from its constitutional role and useful management.
This article suggests a two stage model for understanding the state system and effective role of the bureaucracy respectively therein. It is possible to make Pakistan's bureaucracy development friendly when allowed to operate free from political interference, focused on delivery of services to the people and equipped with modern knowledge of management and governance. That is possible when their recruitment and selection as well as training and development is based on fundamentals of Quran.
Keywords: Bureaucracy, Pakistan, Politics, Civil Services
Introduction
The word 'bureaucracy' finds its origin in French 'bureau' which means 'desk' or 'office'. It was coined sometimes in 18th century by French Economics Jacques Claude (Etymology, bureaucracy Encyclopedia). When came in English language, it initially became 'bureaucratic' meaning 'office tyranny'. Thereafter in 19th century, it turned out to be 'bureaucracy' with more elaborated meaning as a system of public administration in which offices are held by unelected officials. It implied management of public affairs by appointed office bearers, often subservient to monarchy. The spheres of bureaucracy were further expanded by German Sociologist Max Weber in 1920. It included any system of administration conducted by trained professionals in accordance with pre-determined rules and procedures. Max Weber (1920) perceived public administration too serious a field to be left to untrained bunch of public representatives. It appears that he rather over-estimated the moral potentials of trained officials; individual human beings with physiological needs and wants who could also be lured into malpractices like those of public representatives or politicians. Education and training to any kind of groups of people works well under a system of checks and balances. It erodes over a period of time as unchecked human desires over take the ethics. Pakistan's bureaucracy went into this kind of experience...