Najm us Saqib
A candidate of this year’s CSS exam had several questions when she met me last week. She had just finished the written part of the exam and needed some tips about the viva voce. I was more interested in addressing her ‘unrelated’ questions and concerns. Naivety in her tone aside, trust me, I was pleased to see a young soul – eager to contribute towards improving the overall situation. However, her intriguing questions made me a little sad as there wasn’t much that I could offer to her in response. Almost all queries made by her were self-explanatory. I was being educated on our youth’s mindset. Here is the gist of our Q&A session:
Q: I have worked so hard for the exam and to join the Foreign Service of Pakistan. I am confident to achieve my goal but tell me Sir, should I be working under the new Foreign Minister who has apparently no knowledge of foreign affairs at all? How would he lead us in facing the enormous challenges facing the country?
A: To begin with, as a junior officer, you will be working under the supervision of a grade-18 level officer. I don’t think you would even interact with the Foreign Minister, at least in the next fifteen years. Who knows who the Minister will be then. Secondly, the head of Ministry of Foreign Affairs is the Foreign Secretary and not the Foreign Minister. In any case, you will soon come to know that Ministers and Secretaries have hardly any role to play in formulating the foreign policy. For the moment, you should be focusing on clearing the exam successfully.
Q: If corruption has been accepted as a social norm and all those who were not involved in corrupt practices have been sidelined, how would a straight-thinking mind survive in the system? The choice is between the devil and the deep blue sea. You grow if you toe the line. But if you stay on course, you are quietly sidelined. What course of action would you suggest for us?
A: First, you need to decide whether you are joining the civil service or a reformist movement? You do in Rome as the Romans do. I don’t think it’s a matter of choice. In every bureaucratic set-up, they invariably need a few hands who could work hard and deliver. Be that person. Stay clean, work hard, and don’t think it is your duty to change the world. Let them do what they want to. I must add that all of them are not corrupt. The majority believes in good practices. Yes, your path will be difficult but eventually your righteousness will justify everything. Trust me. Honesty is still the best policy.
Q: The recent elections have produced a government which itself admits it cannot deliver. The party that won the majority vote has been crucified in the corridors of technicalities. Would it not be difficult for a diplomat to justify such a bizarre predicament abroad?
A: Its how you look at it. To me, the recent elections have exposed the hidden fault lines. That is step number one in the right direction. The public awareness about the election process has increased. Many people including senior citizens have voted for the first time. I am confident that the rigmarole of form 45 and 47 will be addressed by all concerned next time. Don’t get disheartened. It’s an evolutionary process. As for your question, I don’t think anyone abroad would be asking you to justify your political system. Similarly, you would not be enquiring from your American counterpart to explain their 20-year long stay in Afghanistan. Diplomacy is all about making new friends. And of course, you don’t embarrass your friends even if you know their weaknesses.
Q: Sir, can you name a democracy in the world whereby two brothers know before the elections that one of them would be the Prime Minister? Politics is increasingly becoming a family business. Don’t we have other candidates for such important positions?
A: You don’t try to change a system without having full and proper understanding of it. You should be more concerned about the right system of governance in Pakistan. You will be required to implement policies. Your input on policy making will be marginal. Tell me. Why do you think that democracy is the only way our country could run? Secondly, why should we be concerned about defending democracy and not our people? Try to focus on solutions rather than issues.
Q: The Public Administration paper that I attempted this year, tells the story. Statements like ‘Public sector employees should not use their positions to advance general political goals’ or ‘Public administration is not a politically neutral managerial setup, rather it is to be considered in terms of political choices’ indicate the malicious environment that we live in. Why would the examiner be making statements such as ‘Politicians use civil servants to realize their political/personal interests which in turn encourages nepotism and favoritism’?
A: I don’t see any problem there. The examiner would wish you to start thinking of ways and means to address these hardcore issues. As a bureaucrat, you would be required to tackle such issues for the welfare of the people. You will do justice to your job if you don’t become a tool in the hands of politicians. Always keep your resignation letter ready. That will help you stay on course. Meanwhile, focus on your own deeds. Self-accountability, you know…!!
Q: I will be representing a country wherein the news of resumption of IMF’s talks is celebrated as if taking loans to pay debt servicing is a great achievement. How many more decades would it take for us to get out of the IMF’s clutches?
A: Stop thinking like a student leader. Join journalism if you want to find answers to such catchy questions. In any case, IMF would not bother you in the Foreign Office. Doesn’t concern you at all.
Q: And what is this talk of putting our own house in order? What does it mean? Why do we need foreigners to run our economy? Don’t we have our own economists to suggest ways and means to put the country on track?
A: This is where I would like you to make a difference. Keep reflecting on how to persuade the stakeholders to do what they claim. Charity begins at home. Put your own thoughts in order first. Its Pakistan and not Denmark. So, where were we? Yes, we were talking about the viva voce…!!!
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