Session 16 - Pakistan's Bureaucracy

Bureaucracy refers to the administrative elements of the state, such as civil servants and government officials. Some, like Max Weber, emphasize the importance of bureaucracy in all elements of society, and claim that is not just limited to the government but extends beyond to all forms of organisations, like trade unions, business corporations, political parties etc.

The bureaucracy in Pakistan has been criticized time and again. This is primarily because of the fact that there is a bureaucratic pyramid in Pakistan, that is, the top bureaucrat has the highest power. The concentration of power in a few hands results in misuse. The centralized system of bureaucracy in this country, which was adopted by the British has also been criticized widely. The main reason for this is the political instability that prevails throughout the decades. How can a state which suffers from constant instability have a proper and stable bureaucracy?