LAHORE: Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, in a renewed attack on the country’s bureaucracy, condemned the “lavish indulgences” of civil servants and called for urgent legislative reforms. Speaking on a private news channel, Asif cited a report revealing that Rs3.5 trillion is spent annually on bureaucrats. “According to a PIDE report, Rs860 million is spent over the entire service span of a single bureaucrat,” he added.
While not accusing the entire civil service, Asif alleged that “25 to 30 per cent” of the bureaucracy was corrupt and vowed to push for legislation on bureaucracy. He suggested that bureaucrats should be legally bound to declare their assets annually, arguing that “no other sector has as much corruption as the bureaucracy.”
Asif also pointed out a “glaring disparity” in dual nationality rules, noting that only bureaucrats can hold dual nationality in Pakistan, while politicians, judges, and military officers cannot. He called for an end to this privilege. Additionally, he demanded that bureaucrats’ entitlement to “endless allotments of plots” be terminated.
The minister also addressed the uproar following his earlier statement about some bureaucrats purchasing property in Portugal, revealing that an inquiry is underway to expose those involved.
