'The politicians come and go but we will be here forever' - Alonzo Quinn
In Pakistan there are three sources of power: military, bureaucracy and people. If anyone wishes to rule Pakistan, he/she needs the support of any two, or so the saying goes. While the above saying is nothing more than an old wives tale, it has some inherent truths.
For many Pakistanis entry into Pakistani bureaucracy is a fabled dream. It is not that Pakistani bureaucracy pays well - it doesn't. The mere entry into the Pakistani bureaucracy changes your social status over night. If you have diffuse morals, you are basically set for life. You don't need to get another job, you don't need to pay rent and you don't even need to plan for retirement.
This kind of job security has its many perks and advantages. It attracts the best minds in Pakistan and it gives a certain air of professionalism. However, this also paves the way for corruption and incompetence. When some of the positions in bureaucracy are up for political appointees, as is the case in Pakistan, it is a recipe for disaster. Thus, it won't be farfetched to say that bureaucracy is a mixed blessing.
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