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In line with the July uprising's resounding mandate to reform the state, the interim government is undertaking a series of institutional reforms - including the reconstruction of the National Revenue Board and the enactment of the Public Service (Amendment) Ordinance - aimed at strengthening institutional capacity, ensuring accountability, and promoting good governance. Unfortunately, these vital structural reforms have met resistance from within - particularly from officials who are either accustomed to the existing systems or have a vested interest in maintaining the status quo.
Take, for example, the recently issued Revenue Policy and Revenue Management Ordinance, which separates revenue policy-making and tax collection. This reform was crucial to prevent the same individuals from both formulating and executing tax policy, a scenario that had led to a deeply entrenched conflict of interest.
However, since the ordinance was issued in May, NBR officers have been protesting. They abstained from work for weeks and, at one stage, even threatened to halt all customs-related activities across all ports, which has prompted the government to assure them of fulfilling their demand. They have withdrawn their strike following the government's assurances to meet their demand, but are now demanding the removal of the NBR chairman. They have declared NBR Chairman Abdur Rahman Khan as persona non grata at the revenue building until he is removed.
Here it needs to be mentioned that the protesting officials claim they support the need for reform and do not oppose the division of the NBR in principle. Their main demand is that the newly formed policy division be led and staffed by officials from the existing Tax, VAT, and Customs departments. But if this demand is fulfilled, it fundamentally defeats the purpose of the separation. If both policy formulation and implementation are controlled by the same group of officials, the underlying conflict of interest remains intact - rendering the entire reform initiative meaningless.
The prolonged stalemates in the revenue department, as well as at the secretariat, have already sparked anxiety and frustration among the public. All stakeholders must remember that the July uprising has fuelled a national desire for reform across various sectors. The protesting government employees must be careful not to position themselves in opposition to the reforms that people overwhelmingly support. At the same time, the growing instability within public offices increasingly appears to serve the interests of certain vested groups seeking to derail the government's broader reform agenda. The protesting officials, therefore, must ensure that their movement is not exploited to further any political objectives.
Exerting undue pressure on a government entrusted with the responsibility of state reformation not only disrupts the essential functions of governance but also violates moral and administrative norms. From a moral standpoint, it is unjustifiable for public servants - whose salaries are funded by taxpayers - to abandon their duties and hold the public hostage to advance their own interests. It must be remembered that the state does not exist to serve the interests of government employees or any other groups. Its primary responsibility is to ensure the utmost efficiency of the institutions and the welfare of the people at large. The smooth functioning of state institutions and public service delivery cannot be subject to the whims of any particular cadre of employees. Public servants in service-oriented institutions have a moral duty to uphold their commitments to the people. Abandoning that duty and holding public life hostage to advance their petty self-interest is totally unacceptable. While it's essential that reforms are implemented in consultation with the employees and that their legitimate concerns are addressed, public servants must not be allowed to obstruct reform by paralysing government offices and holding the public hostage.