Senate body for imparting quality training to civil servants

ISLAMABAD, Feb 14 (APP):Senate Special Committee on Examination Annual Report of the FPSC for the year 2015, Wednesday underlined the need for imparting quality training to the selected candidates at the civil service academy and defining Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) so that they (civil servant) could effectively deliver in government departments.
The meeting, chaired by Syed Muzafar Hussain Shah, was unanimous to impart practical training to future civil servants rather than teaching them knowledge-based subjects.
It also highlighted importance of bringing overall structural reforms in the Federal Public Service Commission (FPSC) law so that civil servants could work in accordance with law without any political interference.
Elaborating the FPSC selection criteria, Secretary of FPSC Amir Tariq Zaman apprised the body that the commission selected best of the best from available talent through a very rigorous competitive examination but there were some flaws regarding training (post-selection period) that should be rectified for their grooming and specialization in a particular group or service.
Replying to a query of Convener Syed Muzafar Hussain Shah, the secretary said the FPSC was currently teaching subjects like finance and economics. Besides, the selected candidates were also trained to deal with the public. “Practical training should be given to civil servants, which will enable them to deliver in an effective way.”
He also suggested that there should be increased professional coordination among civil servants of all groups for the sake of good governance, keeping the national interests supreme.
Senator Numan Wazir Khattak suggested that the FPSC should develop a comprehensive strategy, keeping in view the best bureaucracy set-ups across the world like Malaysia, which had almost the same pattern being followed in Pakistan.
Muzafar Shah questioned whether there was any change in “pre-colonial and post–colonial mindset of bureaucracy,” the secretary suggested that the FPSC should hire prominent psychologists for holding sessions with civil servants.
The secretary agreed to strengthen the KPIs and said civil servants should be bound to achieve their required targets, adding “once the KPIs are improved further, they will focus on their set goals.”
Senator Taj Haider said there should be no political interference in bureaucracy to ensure good performance of the public servants.
Senator Numan said the FPSC should engage private organizations as well as experts who could contribute in improving the KPIs.