Project Brief:

Effective civil service and efficient public service delivery must be understood as a consequence of a process of decision making which is inherently characterized by conflict, compromise and interdependency, especially within the context of regime changes. Thus, it is important to understand how this affects bureaucratic turnover at key administrative positions. Our research aims to examine the political dynamics of bureaucratic turnover post care-taker governments at six positions in administration and police service between 1990 and 2024. It seeks to highlight key factors which influence stability of tenure of civil servants, without which public service is inevitably compromised. For this purpose, we will study the patterns of appointment, transfer (term in the office) and promotion of public officials against transitioning governments in the stated period. Specifically, our research is focused on investigating how the above contributes to governance challenges and affects bureaucratic efficiency. By doing so, this project aims to deepen the overall understanding of how political factors influence bureaucratic stability and performance, thereafter determining governance effectiveness.

Public Policy Relevance:

Studying this relationship between politics and administrative turnover provides an important positive tipping point for robust civil service reforms. This research will prove highly useful to Pakistan’s public policy in the long run. Specifically, its utility lies in its potential to influence reforms on recruitment, transfer and promotion policies as well as capacity-building of bureaucrats, which will better prepare them for navigating the complexities of Pakistan’s political landscape. Moreover, the research fills a major scholarly gap by examining the relationship between complex political tug of war post care-taker governments and bureaucratic careers- giving it another dimension. By understanding the actual level of political influence on bureaucratic turnover, the project will not only guide the much debated civil service reforms but also contribute to a better understanding of the functions of different actors in the administrative state with empirical evidence. Understanding these factors will help policymakers to develop targeted reforms to strengthen governance and administrative efficiency in Pakistan.

Team Details:

Principal Investigator
Abiha Zahra
Assistant Professor
Information Technology University

Research Associate
Rabail Anjum
Research Associate
Information Technology University