Prime Minister Shibaz Sharif set up a 20-member committee under the leadership of Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar to enhance government efficiency and tackle bureaucratic redundancy. The Committee was tasked with proposing frameworks to enable cross-departmental collaboration and evidence-based policy science while addressing national priorities.
According to a news report, the committee, which includes federal ministers, technocrats, business people, and current and former officials, reflects the government’s focus on adopting a “whole of government approach”, similar to the model used in the Private Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC). Its members include politicians such as Senator Sherry Rehman, former Revenue Minister Haroon Akhtar Khan, and governance expert Zubair Bhatti.
However, the Cabinet Division faced criticism after releasing a depiction of its original notification, which mistakenly referred to Jahanzeb Khan, Minister of the SIFC Apex Committee, as the Executive Director of Pakistan’s alternative to the World Bank. The correction clarified Khan’s status as a retired BS-22 officer, while Dr Tukir Shah remains in his current role as replacement CEO until January 29, after which he will join the government as part of the Prime Minister’s administration.
The Commission’s mandate includes assessing the performance of the Federal Secretariat, identifying overlap and inefficiencies, and incorporating global best practices such as New Zealand government frameworks. It will also focus on motivating high performance through transparent, merit-based assessment linked to promotions and professional development.
To modernize governance, the committee will recommend upgrading the current e-office system to an advanced management information system, featuring real-time tracking, analytics, and decision support tools to enhance accountability and efficiency. It will also propose revisions to the Secretariat’s 2004 instructions to integrate digital tools and systems.
A report outlining the committee’s recommendations is expected within a month. Ishaq Dar, who chairs more than two dozen committees in addition to his responsibilities as Foreign Minister, will oversee the reform initiative.
Sources indicate that the government aims to streamline decision-making processes and improve the effectiveness of the federal secretariat while aligning reforms with international best practices to address Pakistan’s pressing governance challenges.