Presentation on the Presentation on the Proposed National Proposed National

Commission for Government Commission for Government ReformReform

ByBy

Dr. Ishrat HusainDr. Ishrat Husain

April 14, 2006April 14, 2006

National Commission on National Commission on Government Reform (NCGR)Government Reform (NCGR)

• Need for ReformsNeed for Reforms

• Objective of the ReformsObjective of the Reforms

• Scope of ReformsScope of Reforms

• Terms of Reference of the Terms of Reference of the CommissionCommission

• MethodologyMethodology

• End ResultsEnd Results

• Decisions RequestedDecisions Requested

NEED FOR REFORMSNEED FOR REFORMS• Pakistan has made serious strides in Pakistan has made serious strides in

policy reform during the last six years.policy reform during the last six years.

• Policy reforms can take the country Policy reforms can take the country only that far but sustained only that far but sustained improvement will take place only after improvement will take place only after institutions to implement policies and institutions to implement policies and programs are made effective and programs are made effective and efficientefficient

• Five other significant developments Five other significant developments have added to the urgency for a fresh have added to the urgency for a fresh look at the Government structure, look at the Government structure, processes and out reach.processes and out reach.

– A large number of government owned corporations A large number of government owned corporations

and businesses have been privatized reducing the and businesses have been privatized reducing the

administrative burden on government.administrative burden on government.

– A new tier - local government - has been A new tier - local government - has been

introduced that requires reallocation of resources introduced that requires reallocation of resources

and strengthening of capacity.and strengthening of capacity.

– The unbundling of the policy, regulatory and The unbundling of the policy, regulatory and

operational responsibilities of the Federal operational responsibilities of the Federal

Ministries requires a shift of focus.Ministries requires a shift of focus.

– The civil services in Pakistan suffer from a variety The civil services in Pakistan suffer from a variety

of weaknesses including poor training and morale of weaknesses including poor training and morale

and have to be reorganized.and have to be reorganized.

– The opportunities provided by e-government have The opportunities provided by e-government have

not yet been fully realized to improve the access not yet been fully realized to improve the access

of common man.of common man.

OBJECTIVEOBJECTIVEThe objectives of the proposed National The objectives of the proposed National

Commission on Government Reform (NCGR) will Commission on Government Reform (NCGR) will

be to recommend the appropriate size, structure, be to recommend the appropriate size, structure,

division of work and responsibilities within and division of work and responsibilities within and

across the various tiers of the government and across the various tiers of the government and

within each functional unit i.e. the ministry or within each functional unit i.e. the ministry or

department, the processes, procedure and rule department, the processes, procedure and rule

of businesses through which the government of businesses through which the government

operates and the cadre, composition and policies operates and the cadre, composition and policies

pertaining to human resource deployment and pertaining to human resource deployment and

development including a proposal for the development including a proposal for the

evolution of the future civil service structure.evolution of the future civil service structure.

SCOPE OF REFORMSSCOPE OF REFORMS• Government reform has to be Government reform has to be

comprehensive, concurrent and comprehensive, concurrent and coordinated as partial, isolated and coordinated as partial, isolated and adhoc efforts will not produce the adhoc efforts will not produce the synergy required to achieve the synergy required to achieve the desired results. The scope of work of desired results. The scope of work of the commission will therefore cover the the commission will therefore cover the following dimensions.following dimensions.

a.a. Federal, Provincial and Local Governments.Federal, Provincial and Local Governments.

b.b. Organization of the three tiers of Organization of the three tiers of government and horizontal relationships government and horizontal relationships within and across these tiers.within and across these tiers.

c.c. Internal structure of each Ministry and Internal structure of each Ministry and

department and the hierarchical relationships department and the hierarchical relationships

governing the structure, composition, cadre governing the structure, composition, cadre

and HR policies.and HR policies.

d.d. Size and composition of the Civil Services, at Size and composition of the Civil Services, at

all levels of government.all levels of government.

e.e. Business processes including rules of business, Business processes including rules of business,

financial, administrative and establishment financial, administrative and establishment

rules and regulations, and flow of work.rules and regulations, and flow of work.

f.f. Replacement of manual processes by Replacement of manual processes by

automated thus ensuring greater automated thus ensuring greater

transparency.transparency.

TERMS OF REFERENCETERMS OF REFERENCE• The proposed National Commission on The proposed National Commission on

Government reform (NCGR) willGovernment reform (NCGR) will

a.a. Review and clarify division of functions, responsibilities Review and clarify division of functions, responsibilities

and accountabilities among the Federal, Provincial and and accountabilities among the Federal, Provincial and

local government as given under the constitution of local government as given under the constitution of

Pakistan to avoid duplication and overlapping of work.Pakistan to avoid duplication and overlapping of work.

b.b. Review and recommend the internal organization and Review and recommend the internal organization and

hierarchical structure of the Ministries and departments hierarchical structure of the Ministries and departments

at all three tiers of the government. at all three tiers of the government.

c.c. Recommend appropriate size of departments / ministries, Recommend appropriate size of departments / ministries,

at each tier of government including the attached at each tier of government including the attached

departments, autonomous bodies, public sector departments, autonomous bodies, public sector

corporations and other entities in light of the corporations and other entities in light of the

responsibilities, functions and accountabilities assigned responsibilities, functions and accountabilities assigned

to them. to them.

d.d. Identify the redundancies, gaps and surpluses and propose the Identify the redundancies, gaps and surpluses and propose the

measures for right size, if needed and filling in the gaps.measures for right size, if needed and filling in the gaps.

e.e. Lay down the job descriptions and matching skill requirements Lay down the job descriptions and matching skill requirements

for each level of government ministries and department for each level of government ministries and department

f.f. Review and revise rules, regulations in force in each Review and revise rules, regulations in force in each

government unit in carrying out their work and the rules of government unit in carrying out their work and the rules of

business specifying the procedures and processes through business specifying the procedures and processes through

which the government carries out its operations and delivers which the government carries out its operations and delivers

services to the citizens services to the citizens

g.g. Review the existing groupings of civil services at the Federal Review the existing groupings of civil services at the Federal

and Provincial Government level and recommend a new and Provincial Government level and recommend a new

structure of civil services including the cadre, composition and structure of civil services including the cadre, composition and

policies pertaining to recruitment, training, performance policies pertaining to recruitment, training, performance

management, career progression, promotion benefits, management, career progression, promotion benefits,

compensation based on performance, severance and compensation based on performance, severance and

disciplinary action.disciplinary action.

CIVIL SERVICES REFORMCIVIL SERVICES REFORM• The reforms of the Civil Services are The reforms of the Civil Services are

aimed at making Federation strong aimed at making Federation strong and promote national integration and and promote national integration and will cover the whole value chain fromwill cover the whole value chain from::– Recruitment and InductionRecruitment and Induction– Post-Induction Training Post-Induction Training – Career Path Planning and ProgressionCareer Path Planning and Progression– Performance ManagementPerformance Management– Training and DevelopmentTraining and Development– Compensation and BenefitsCompensation and Benefits– Discipline and Code of EthicsDiscipline and Code of Ethics– SeveranceSeverance– Retirement and BenefitsRetirement and Benefits– Cadres and CompositionCadres and Composition

STRUCTURE OF THE GOVERNMENTSTRUCTURE OF THE GOVERNMENT

• The Commission will reviewThe Commission will review a.a. The existing structure and organization of the The existing structure and organization of the

Federal, Provincial and Local Governments and Federal, Provincial and Local Governments and their interrelationships with an aim to reduce their interrelationships with an aim to reduce the transaction cost and promote a culture of the transaction cost and promote a culture of decision making and problem solving with fully decision making and problem solving with fully defined accountability for results.defined accountability for results.

b.b. The internal structure of each ministry, The internal structure of each ministry, provincial department, including the continued provincial department, including the continued justification of the attached departments, justification of the attached departments, autonomous bodies. It will recommend a new autonomous bodies. It will recommend a new structure in which policy making, monitoring structure in which policy making, monitoring and evaluation, operational and regulatory and evaluation, operational and regulatory functions of the Government are clearly functions of the Government are clearly delineated. delineated.

BUSINESS PROCESS REENGINEERING BUSINESS PROCESS REENGINEERING (BPR) (BPR)

• The BPR review will use modern The BPR review will use modern technology to facilitate the ordinary technology to facilitate the ordinary citizens in accessing government citizens in accessing government departments and agencies for departments and agencies for obtaining relief to their problems or obtaining relief to their problems or grievances in ways that are grievances in ways that are transparent, judicious and are not transparent, judicious and are not time consumingtime consuming

• This will involve This will involve a.a. Review and simplification of existing rules Review and simplification of existing rules

and regulations, their availability on the and regulations, their availability on the web pages and their interpretations and web pages and their interpretations and applications to be in the public knowledge applications to be in the public knowledge

b.b. Delegation of adequate powers to the staff who Delegation of adequate powers to the staff who

come in contact with the ordinary citizens with come in contact with the ordinary citizens with

their full monitoring and accountability and their full monitoring and accountability and

c.c. Increased use of technology to ensure that a lot Increased use of technology to ensure that a lot

of forms, returns, reports required by the govt. of forms, returns, reports required by the govt.

can be filled in and submitted electronically.can be filled in and submitted electronically.

METHODOLOGYMETHODOLOGY• The Commission will consist of six full time The Commission will consist of six full time

independent members and three ex-officio independent members and three ex-officio members drawn from the different provinces members drawn from the different provinces based on their reputation, expertise and based on their reputation, expertise and expected contribution.expected contribution.

• The supervision, oversight and guidance of the The supervision, oversight and guidance of the Commission will reside in a High Powered Commission will reside in a High Powered Committee (HPC) Co-chaired by the President of Committee (HPC) Co-chaired by the President of Pakistan and Prime Minister of Pakistan and Pakistan and Prime Minister of Pakistan and consisting of the four Provincial Chief Ministers. consisting of the four Provincial Chief Ministers. This HPC will also be responsible for approving This HPC will also be responsible for approving the recommendations of the NCGR and the recommendations of the NCGR and monitoring their implementation. The HPC can monitoring their implementation. The HPC can refer the matters to the Federal or Provincial refer the matters to the Federal or Provincial Cabinets for soliciting their views before it Cabinets for soliciting their views before it decides but a time limit will be given in each decides but a time limit will be given in each case.case.

• The Commission may form various sub-The Commission may form various sub-

committees and coopt other members from committees and coopt other members from

the existing and retired civil servants, private the existing and retired civil servants, private

sector, academia etc.sector, academia etc.

• The Commission will hold open public The Commission will hold open public

hearings at different places in Pakistan and hearings at different places in Pakistan and

invite experts to testify and make invite experts to testify and make

suggestions. Members of general public will suggestions. Members of general public will

also be encouraged to submit oral or written also be encouraged to submit oral or written

views and comments. Consultations with views and comments. Consultations with

stakeholders and consensus building will be stakeholders and consensus building will be

the recurring theme of the Commission’s work the recurring theme of the Commission’s work

throughout the process.throughout the process.

• The Commission will prepare and submit a The Commission will prepare and submit a summary of its findings and recommendations to summary of its findings and recommendations to the HPC for its consideration and approval. The the HPC for its consideration and approval. The decisions taken by the HPC will be final and decisions taken by the HPC will be final and cannot be re-opened by any other executive cannot be re-opened by any other executive body except those under the purview of the body except those under the purview of the legislature or acted upon by the judiciary. legislature or acted upon by the judiciary.

• The Commission will have access to all published The Commission will have access to all published and unpublished reports, studies, analyses, and unpublished reports, studies, analyses, memoranda, diagnosis, Cabinet and its memoranda, diagnosis, Cabinet and its subcommittee summaries on the issues subcommittee summaries on the issues pertaining to the reform of the government. pertaining to the reform of the government. These studies and reports will be received by the These studies and reports will be received by the Commission in the first instance to formulate its Commission in the first instance to formulate its views on the practical, pragmatic and views on the practical, pragmatic and implementable recommendations made in these implementable recommendations made in these reports. This will allow the Commission to tap on reports. This will allow the Commission to tap on the vast reservoir of the work that has already the vast reservoir of the work that has already been carried out and avoid repetition, been carried out and avoid repetition, duplication and save time.duplication and save time.

• The Chairman may form an international The Chairman may form an international

advisory committee of the renowned advisory committee of the renowned

experts to assist the commission experts to assist the commission

incorporating best practices and workable incorporating best practices and workable

precedents. Technical Assistance funds on precedents. Technical Assistance funds on

grant basis may be sought from external grant basis may be sought from external

donors.donors.

DECISIONS REQUESTEDDECISIONS REQUESTED

• Approval of the composition, terms of Approval of the composition, terms of

reference and methodology of the reference and methodology of the

National Commission on Government National Commission on Government

Reform.Reform.

• Approval of the draft ordinance Approval of the draft ordinance

setting up the Commission.setting up the Commission.

• Establishment of the High Powered Establishment of the High Powered

Committee co-chaired by the Committee co-chaired by the

President and the PM to supervise, President and the PM to supervise,

oversee and guide the Commission.oversee and guide the Commission.

• Issuance of letters by the PM and CMs Issuance of letters by the PM and CMs

to respective Ministries and to respective Ministries and

Provincial departments to extend all Provincial departments to extend all

assistance and cooperation including assistance and cooperation including

appearances and testimonies before appearances and testimonies before

the Commission.the Commission.

• Issuance of a gazette notification Issuance of a gazette notification

announcing the formation of the announcing the formation of the

Commission.Commission.

• Location and accommodation of the Location and accommodation of the

Commission and its Secretariat and Commission and its Secretariat and

staffing of the Secretariat.staffing of the Secretariat.

• Approval of a block line item budget Approval of a block line item budget for the Commission with the for the Commission with the procedures and powers for incurring procedures and powers for incurring expenditure clearly outlined. All expenditure clearly outlined. All expenditure will be subject to the expenditure will be subject to the audit by the Auditor General of audit by the Auditor General of Pakistan.Pakistan.

• Transfer of Civil Service Reforms Unit Transfer of Civil Service Reforms Unit (CSRU) from Establishment Division to (CSRU) from Establishment Division to the NCGR and other units, committees the NCGR and other units, committees formed for the purpose of formed for the purpose of administrative and organizational administrative and organizational reforms. reforms.

• Formal coordination mechanism Formal coordination mechanism between the NCGR and National School between the NCGR and National School of Public Policy (NSPP) for developing of Public Policy (NSPP) for developing a strategy for training and a strategy for training and development for Civil Servants. development for Civil Servants.

End-Result of the Reform End-Result of the Reform ProgrammeProgramme

• To setup a system of the government To setup a system of the government

in Pakistan that is responsive to the in Pakistan that is responsive to the

needs of the people, has the capacity needs of the people, has the capacity

to implement the policies, programs to implement the policies, programs

and projects in a cost effective and and projects in a cost effective and

efficient manner and is able to adapt efficient manner and is able to adapt

itself to the changing domestic and itself to the changing domestic and

external circumstances.external circumstances.

Thank youThank you