More than two years into Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz’s tenure, Punjab’s bureaucracy is operating under a significantly different administrative model, focusing on continuity in appointments and performance-based accountability rather than frequent transfers.
According to government officials, the provincial administration has adopted a governance strategy centered on administrative stability, allowing senior officers to remain in their positions for longer periods to ensure continuity in policymaking and project implementation.
Since Maryam Nawaz assumed office in February 2024, Chief Secretary Zahid Akhtar Zaman has continued serving as the province’s top civil servant without interruption. Similarly, Dr. Usman Anwar remained Inspector General of Punjab Police for nearly two years before his appointment as Director General of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) in February 2026. He was succeeded by Rao Abdul Karim, formerly Additional IG of Punjab’s Special Branch.
Likewise, Sajid Zafar Dal, appointed Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister in March 2024, has continued serving in the same position throughout the current administration.
The government’s approach differs considerably from the previous Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) administration led by former Chief Minister Usman Buzdar, during which repeated transfers and postings became a defining characteristic of Punjab’s bureaucracy. During that period, multiple chief secretaries, inspectors general of police, principal secretaries, commissioners, deputy commissioners, and police officers were frequently transferred, drawing criticism from administrative experts and civil servants.
A key feature of the current administrative model is the introduction of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for deputy commissioners, assistant commissioners, commissioners, district police officers, divisional police officers, and other field officials.
Under the KPI system, officials are regularly evaluated based on measurable targets, including price control, anti-encroachment operations, sanitation, education, healthcare delivery, revenue collection, and implementation of flagship provincial projects.
Government officials maintain that appointments and transfers are now primarily based on administrative performance rather than political recommendations. They claim the Chief Minister has discouraged external influence in postings and transfers to strengthen institutional discipline and accountability.
Supporters of the policy argue that stable postings allow officers to take ownership of projects, improve service delivery, and remain accountable for long-term results instead of constantly adapting to new assignments.
Administrative experts have long maintained that frequent transfers disrupt governance, weaken institutional memory, delay development projects, and reduce accountability. Several studies on Pakistan’s civil service have similarly concluded that short tenures often encourage short-term decision-making and negatively affect administrative efficiency.
Although transfers continue where required due to performance or administrative reasons, the Punjab government says its broader objective remains ensuring continuity, stability, and measurable performance across the provincial administration.
