Hamza Shafqaat

civil servant known as DC Islamabad

Compiled from 1 recorded interview. Every statement below is drawn from the passage cited beside it.

Hamza Shafqaat is a civil servant known as DC Islamabad. He was allocated to the DMG after passing the CSS exam, and his first posting was in Larkana, Sindh. He later served in Islamabad, at CDA and in the Establishment Division, and says he has been Deputy Commissioner for the last two years.

Early life and background

Shafqaat's family is from Gujarat and has lived in Lahore for more than four decades. [1]

Education

Shafqaat studied engineering at GIKI. He also completed an MPhil in Government and Public Policy at National Defense University. [1]

Career

Shafqaat took the CSS exam after a short preparation and failed it. He says he then realised that the exam demanded respect and a lot of hard work. After failing, he prepared for a year, including at academies in Lahore. [1]

Shafqaat sat the CSS exam in 2005. He was allocated to the DMG, which he says is now called the Pakistan Administrative Service. After passing CSS, he completed about 18 months of training. [1]

Posting in Sindh

Shafqaat's first posting after training was in Larkana, Sindh. He says he had never been to interior Sindh. He served in Rato Dero tehsil in interior Sindh, which he describes as his first posting, and he spent about three and a half years in Sindh before being promoted and posted to Islamabad. [1]

Shafqaat says he had a wonderful experience in Sindh, where people are extremely hospitable. He also says that where no middle class exists, people do not press for hospitals, schools or roads. He estimates that Sindh needs 30 to 40 years of effort to return to civilisation. [1]

Islamabad

In Islamabad, Shafqaat was Additional Deputy Commissioner for about a year and a half. He then spent three years on deputation as a director at CDA. He moved to the Establishment Division as Deputy Secretary for two years. [1]

Shafqaat says he has been Deputy Commissioner for the last two years. He is also the district magistrate, responsible for Islamabad's law and order. He says city administration is his strength, and the work he wants to keep doing. [1]

Islamabad district administration

Shafqaat says Ayub Khan set up an authority in 1960 to develop the capital, which began in a tehsil of Pindi. He says a separate Islamabad district administration was created in 1980, under Zia-ul-Haq. He says sanitation, street lights and water supply sit with the Metropolitan Corporation, and that when a law and order situation arises because of them, the responsibility becomes his. [1]

Shafqaat says Islamabad was once considered the most beautiful capital in the world, and that it has seen many more issues in the last five or six years. He says Islamabad had about 700,000 people in 2005 and has 2.2 million now. He says it still has one tehsildar, and that police stations grew from 17 to about 21 with the same police force. He also says his budget was cut by 20 percent compared with the previous year. [1]

Crime and public order

Shafqaat cites a 33 percent fall in the crime rate compared with the previous year. He notes the counter-argument that the fall came from COVID-era closures. He says it is impossible not to register FIRs in Islamabad, and that only four or five high-profile dacoities happened in Islamabad in the past year. [1]

Shafqaat says the National Assembly's Standing Committee on Interior called him in and praised Islamabad's police and administration. He says about 70,000 people came to Islamabad for a JUI sit-in, which had not happened before. He says COVID was largely brought under control, though spikes still occur, and that three breaches were filled overnight with the army, saving about 250 homes. He also says strong action against adulteration brought complaints about it to an end. [1]

Public communication

Shafqaat says feedback from social media shows him the real situation on the ground, which improves his decisions. He says his prime purpose was to get factual and accurate news to the public. He says his administration launched several apps, and that he must hold an open kachehri on Facebook every week, which he calls e-kachehri. [1]

Shafqaat says other district administrations, including Pindi, Chakwal and Jhelum, opened accounts after the DC Islamabad account. He says he sits at the F-8 kachehri every Thursday and resolves CDA-related issues. He says that those who do not choke municipal services or cause public nuisance will not be bothered. [1]

Initiatives

Shafqaat says work on plastic had been running for ten days, and that enforcement includes confiscations, warnings and a move toward sealing, which he calls an extreme punishment. He says five shelters in Islamabad serve 1,500 to 2,000 free meals a day. He says encroachment drives recovered 15,000 kanal of land, worth 550 to 600 arab rupees. [1]

Shafqaat says ANF, the police and the district administration worked together and checked both supply and demand. He says his team set up school vigilance committees, and that he personally began giving lectures in schools. He says the focus has shifted to reducing demand by advising children and parents, and that his administration has set up drug helplines. [1]

Shafqaat says child protection bureaus should exist in Islamabad, as they do in Punjab. He says CDA has said acquiring the F-12 and G-12 land is not feasible, given the compensation it would need to pay. He says a 22 billion rupee project with two hanging bridges has been approved. [1]

Views on the civil service

Shafqaat says the idea that CSS entrants are getting worse is a myth. He says the number of CSS candidates grew from seven or eight thousand to 14 or 15 thousand, and that the civil service is attracting the best human resource. He says civil servants have the most at stake in the system, since they must stay in Pakistan. [1]

Shafqaat says the system is flawed and lacks the fluidity required. He says only two or three percent of civil servants are exceptional, and that an ordinary civil servant cannot deliver within the current system. He says civil servants face NAB, audit, assembly, court and media checks, and nobody is willing to take risks. [1]

Shafqaat says India has its own commissions, association, posting body and promotion system for civil servants. He says grades below 17 make up 96 percent of the bureaucracy, and that there has been no discussion so far of reform for that 96 percent. [1]

Shafqaat says a civil servant is not a politician and must work without personal opinion. As a civil servant he says he cannot publicly discuss politics or institutions, because the law restricts him. He says the conduct rules bar civil servants from sharing inside information to embarrass the government, and that under them he must have any article or book vetted by the Establishment Division first. He says he personally bears the risk if a remark embarrasses the government, and he suggests the government should protect civil servants who speak publicly. [1]

Views on Pakistan

Shafqaat says population is the biggest challenge facing Pakistan. He says Pakistan's crises are serious, but its positives are substantial, and that the media and courts are independent and the middle class is vocal. He says Pakistan's youth should build their own enterprises rather than depend on government jobs. He predicts Pakistan will be an emerging, Asian tiger-type economy within 10 years. [1]

Timeline

1960
Ayub Khan set up an authority to develop the capital, according to Shafqaat.[1]
1980
A separate Islamabad district administration was created, according to Shafqaat.[1]
2005
Shafqaat sat the CSS exam.[1]

Appearances

DateTitleWhere
2020-10-16 What DC Islamabad learned from rural Sindh Thought Behind Things

Frequently asked questions

Who is Hamza Shafqaat?

Hamza Shafqaat is a civil servant known as DC Islamabad. He was allocated to the DMG after passing the CSS exam. He says he has been Deputy Commissioner for the last two years.[1]

What does Hamza Shafqaat do?

Hamza Shafqaat is Deputy Commissioner in Islamabad. He is also the district magistrate, responsible for Islamabad's law and order. He says city administration is his strength.[1]

Where did Hamza Shafqaat study?

Hamza Shafqaat studied engineering at GIKI. He also completed an MPhil in Government and Public Policy at National Defense University.[1]

Where is Hamza Shafqaat from?

Hamza Shafqaat's family is from Gujarat. It has lived in Lahore for more than four decades.[1]

Where was Hamza Shafqaat first posted?

Hamza Shafqaat's first posting after training was in Larkana, Sindh. He served in Rato Dero tehsil in interior Sindh, which he describes as his first posting. He spent about three and a half years in Sindh before being promoted and posted to Islamabad.[1]

How did Hamza Shafqaat join the civil service?

Hamza Shafqaat took the CSS exam after a short preparation and failed it. He then prepared for a year, including at academies in Lahore. He was allocated to the DMG, which he says is now called the Pakistan Administrative Service.[1]

What posts has Hamza Shafqaat held in Islamabad?

Hamza Shafqaat was Additional Deputy Commissioner in Islamabad for about a year and a half. He then spent three years on deputation as a director at CDA. After two years as Deputy Secretary in the Establishment Division, he says he has been Deputy Commissioner for the last two years.[1]

What does Hamza Shafqaat say about Pakistan's future?

Hamza Shafqaat says population is the biggest challenge facing Pakistan. He says Pakistan's youth should build their own enterprises rather than depend on government jobs. He predicts Pakistan will be an emerging, Asian tiger-type economy within 10 years.[1]

References

  1. What DC Islamabad learned from rural Sindh . Thought Behind Things , 2020-10-16.
Show the source passages (81 statements)
  1. He is known as DC Islamabad. In conversation with DC Islamabad, Hamza Shafqaat, this episode explores his career as a civil servant.
  2. His family is from Gujarat and has lived in Lahore for more than four decades. basically we are from Gujarat, lekin we have lived in Lahore for like more than four decades
  3. He studied engineering at GIKI. maine engineering ki GIKI se aur engineering karte saath hi uske do, teen mahine baad CSS ka exam tha
  4. He completed an MPhil in Government and Public Policy at National Defense University. Maine MPhil kiya in Government and Public Policy. Acha. From National Defense University
  5. He sat the CSS exam in 2005. Maine 2005 mein CSS kiya tha.
  6. He sat the CSS exam after a short preparation and failed it. maine ek thodi si tayari karke exam de diya ke, to main pass kar hi lunga, ye to kaunsa aisa masla hai aur nalaik civil servants hote hain, nalaik bureaucracy, ye Pakistan ki koi masla nahi hai. Usmein main fail ho gaya.
  7. He says he then realised the exam demanded respect and a lot of hard work. Aur uske baad maine realize kiya ke nahi yaar, it demands respect and it demands a lot of hard work.
  8. After failing, he prepared for a year, including at academies in Lahore. Phir maine ek saal poora tayari ki, usmein main academy bhi gaya, wahan pe Lahore mein local academies thi
  9. He was allocated to the DMG, which he says is now called the Pakistan Administrative Service. 2005 mein maine phir CSS ka exam diya aur DMG mein main allocate hua, jisko ab hum Pakistan Administrative Service kehte hain
  10. After passing CSS, he completed about 18 months of training. CSS karne ke baad phir meri hamari dedh saal ki training hoti hai
  11. His first posting after training was in Larkana, Sindh. Aur woh karne ke baad meri Sindh mein posting hui, meri first posting Larkana mein thi.
  12. He says he had never been to interior Sindh. I had never been to interior Sindh
  13. He served in Rato Dero tehsil in interior Sindh, which he describes as his first posting. In interior Sindh, Rato Dero tehsil thi. So that was my first posting.
  14. He says he had a wonderful experience in Sindh, where people are extremely hospitable. Lekin otherwise I had a wonderful experience. People of Sindh are extremely hospitable.
  15. He says that where no middle class exists, people do not press for hospitals, schools or roads. Middle class exist nahi karti aur jahan pe middle class exist na kar rahi ho wahan pe koi log hospital ya school ke liye ya sadkon ke liye zor hi nahi lagate
  16. He estimates that Sindh needs 30 to 40 years of effort to return to civilisation. Mera khayal hai 30, 40 saal ki mehnat required hai Sindh mein taake woh wapas civilization ke andar aa sakein.
  17. He served about three and a half years in Sindh before being promoted and posted to Islamabad. Saade teen saal Sindh mein raha, phir main promote hua aur phir meri posting Islamabad mein hui as Additional Deputy Commissioner.
  18. He was Additional Deputy Commissioner in Islamabad for about a year and a half. Kareeban dedh saal Additional Deputy Commissioner raha
  19. He then spent three years on deputation as a director at CDA. phir main yahan se CDA mein chala gaya, teen saal deputation pe director raha
  20. He moved to the Establishment Division as Deputy Secretary for two years. Wahan se phir main establishment division mein chala gaya as Deputy Secretary, do saal raha
  21. He says he has been Deputy Commissioner for the last two years. aur ab for the last two years main Deputy Commissioner hoon
  22. He says city administration is his strength, and the work he wants to keep doing. mera jo forte hai woh city administration hi hai, isi mein main kaam bhi karna chahta hoon
  23. As a civil servant he says he cannot publicly discuss politics or institutions, because the law restricts him. Being a civil servant to main bahut zyada is tarah koi politics ke upar baat nahi kar sakta ya idaron ke upar baat nahi kar sakta, mujhe law bar karta hai.
  24. He says Ayub Khan set up an authority in 1960 to develop the capital, which began in a tehsil of Pindi. 1960 mein Ayub Khan sahab ne ek authority banayi jo capital ko develop kare aur capital Pindi ki ek tehsil mein banna shuru hua.
  25. He says a separate Islamabad district administration was created in 1980, under Zia-ul-Haq. 1980 mein 20 saal baad phir Zia-ul-Haq sahab ke zamane mein unhone kaha ke nahi yaar yahan pe separate district administration bhi idhar banaye
  26. He says sanitation, street lights and water supply sit with the Metropolitan Corporation. sanitation ki actual power jo hai woh Metropolitan Corporation ke paas hai, street lights unke paas hai, water supply unke paas hai
  27. He says that when a law and order situation arises because of them, the responsibility becomes his. Lekin unki wajah se jab law and order ki situation banti hai to meri zimmedari banti hai
  28. He says Islamabad was once considered the most beautiful capital in the world. Islamabad was considered as the most beautiful capital in the world
  29. He says Islamabad has seen many more issues in the last five or six years. Lekin abhi aap dekhein in the last five, six years kaafi zyada ismein issues aaye hain
  30. He cites a 33 percent fall in the crime rate compared with the previous year. 33% hamara last year se crime rate neeche gaya hua hai
  31. He notes the counter-argument that the fall came from COVID-era closures. uska counter argument ye hai ke corona ke zamane mein sab kuch band tha to woh to crime us wajah se kam hua hua hai
  32. He says it is impossible not to register FIRs in Islamabad. Islamabad mein FIR na kaatna is impossible
  33. He says only four or five high-profile dacoities happened in Islamabad in the past year. dacoity poore Islamabad mein sirf chaar ya paanch hui hain in the last one year
  34. He says the National Assembly's Standing Committee on Interior called him in and praised Islamabad's police and administration. PM ne notice liya unko present kiya National Assembly ki Standing Committee on Interior, unhone bulaya aur phir unhone appreciate kiya ke Islamabad police aur intizamia acha kaam kar rahi hai
  35. He says the idea that CSS entrants are getting worse is a myth. Normaly ye myth hai ke ji CSS civil service ke andar jo log aa rahe hain ab woh kharab aate ja rahe hain, ek myth hai.
  36. He says the number of CSS candidates grew from seven or eight thousand to 14 or 15 thousand. mere zamane mein CSS mein poore Pakistan se saat ya aath hazaar log imtehan dete the, ab 14 se 15 hazaar log imtehan de rahe hain
  37. He says the civil service is attracting the best human resource. civil service is attracting the best human resource
  38. He says the system is flawed and lacks the fluidity required. Because the system is just so flawed and it's it lacks the fluidity required
  39. He says only two or three percent of civil servants are exceptional. Dekhein aapko odd exceptional civil servants nazar aate rahenge, par woh kitne percent honge, 2 ya 3 percent
  40. He says an ordinary civil servant cannot deliver within the current system. Lekin otherwise jo normal civil servant hai uske liye to impossible hai deliver karna within the current system
  41. He says civil servants face NAB, audit, assembly, court and media checks, and nobody is willing to take risks. Matlab kabhi NAB ka check hai, audit ka check hai, assemblies ka check hai, uske baad aapke courts ka check hai, media ka itna strong check hai, to un saare checks mein kaun decision lega, innovation karega ke yaar ismein galti hogi to nobody is willing to take that risk
  42. He says India has its own commissions, association, posting body and promotion system for civil servants. Unke commissions bane hue hain, protections hain. Phir unki IAS, Indian Administrative Service ki apni association hai. Phir unki posting body separate hai, promotion unki separate hai
  43. He says grades below 17 make up 96 percent of the bureaucracy. 17 grade se kam wale hain na woh bahut zyada bharte hue hain. Woh 96 percent of the entire bureaucracy hain
  44. He says there has been no discussion so far of reform for that 96 percent. Unfortunately, is 96 percent ke reform pe aaj tak koi baat nahi hui
  45. He says Islamabad had about 700,000 people in 2005 and has 2.2 million now. Islamabad woh city hai ki aaj 2005 mein jab main CSS kar raha tha, iski abadi 7 lakh thi. Ab 22 lakh hai.
  46. He says Islamabad still has one tehsildar, and police stations grew from 17 to about 21 with the same police force. Aaj bhi Islamabad mein ek hi tehsildar hai, aaj bhi Islamabad mein pehle 17 thane the, abhi koi 20, 21 thane ho gaye hain, women thana ban gaya hua hai, lekin with the same police force
  47. He says his budget was cut by 20 percent compared with the previous year. mujhe pichle saal se bhi 20 percent kaat ke budget diya gaya hai
  48. He says about 70,000 people came to Islamabad for a JUI sit-in, which had not happened before. JUI ka dharna aaya tha. 70 hazar banda Islamabad mein isse pehle kabhi invade nahi kiya
  49. He says COVID was largely brought under control, though spikes still occur. Covid ko kafi had tak humne control kar liya hai aur kabhi kabhi spikes aa bhi rahi hain
  50. He says three breaches were filled overnight with the army, saving about 250 homes. Pata chala teen jagah se breach hain. Fauri raato raat army ke saath milke unko fill up kar diya. Do 250 ghar bach gaye.
  51. He says feedback from social media shows him the real situation on the ground, which improves his decisions. To mujhe actually pata ho ground pe kya ho raha hai aur obviously usse phir behtar main decision making karta hu
  52. He says his prime purpose was to get factual and accurate news to the public. mera prime purpose yahi tha ki jo factual aur accurate news hai woh awaam tak pahunch jaye
  53. He says his administration launched several apps. humne kayi apps launch ki hain, Durust Daam ke naam se, City Islamabad app ke naam se
  54. He says he must hold an open kachehri on Facebook every week, which he calls e-kachehri. Abhi bhi har hafte mere liye compulsory hai ki main Facebook pe ja ke kachehri karun. Like khuli kachehri, e-kachehri jise hum kehte hain
  55. He says strong action against adulteration brought complaints about it to an end. Tabahi humne pher di, itna action kiya aur ab matlab adulteration ki shikayatein khatam ho gayi hain
  56. He says the conduct rules bar civil servants from sharing inside information to embarrass the government. Uski jo broad guidelines aayi hain, woh yeh hai ki koi hum government policy pe government ko embarrass karne ke liye, department ko embarrass karne ke liye inside information nahi share kar sakte
  57. He says under the conduct rules he must have any article or book vetted by the Establishment Division first. maine agar koi koi bhi article bhi likhna hai, koi kitab bhi likhna hai to uska pehle main vetting karaunga establishment division se
  58. He says he personally bears the risk if a remark embarrasses the government. agar koi maine aisi baat kar di jisse government embarrass hui, to my neck is on the line
  59. He suggests the government should protect civil servants who speak publicly. Meri humble suggestion mein yahi hoga ki government ko protection deni chahiye ki civil servants aayein, apne aap ko rakhein logon ke samne
  60. He says other district administrations, including Pindi, Chakwal and Jhelum, opened accounts after the DC Islamabad account. jab maine DC Islamabad ka account banaya hai, to usse hi inspire ho ke phir DC Pindi bhi bana, phir Chakwal bhi, phir Jhelum bhi
  61. He says work on plastic had been running for ten days. Plastic pe to humne 10 din ho gaye hain kaam shuru kiya hua hai
  62. He says enforcement includes confiscations, warnings and a move toward sealing, which he calls an extreme punishment. Confiscate bhi kar rahe hain, warnings bhi issue kar rahe hain aur ab hum sealing ki taraf bhi jane lage hain jo extreme punishment hai
  63. He says child protection bureaus should exist in Islamabad, as they do in Punjab. kuch child protection bureaus Islamabad mein exist karein jaise Punjab mein bhi hain
  64. He says five shelters in Islamabad serve 1,500 to 2,000 free meals a day. ab un paanch panah gahon mein daily 1500 se 2000 log muft khana khate hain
  65. He says encroachment drives recovered 15,000 kanal of land, worth 550 to 600 arab rupees. encroachment ke upar humne 15000 kanal 550 600 arab rupay ki zameen recover karayi hai
  66. He says ANF, the police and the district administration worked together and checked both supply and demand. ANF anti narcotics force police aur district administration teenon ne mil ke kaam kiya supply ko bhi check kiya aur demand ko bhi check kiya
  67. He says his team set up school vigilance committees, and he personally began giving lectures in schools. humne schoolon ke andar vigilance committees banayi schoolon mein ja ke maine personally lectures dena shuru kiye
  68. He says the focus has shifted to reducing demand by advising children and parents. ab hum focus ab demand ki kami pe kar rahe hain ke yaar bacchon ko samjhayein unke maa baap ko samjhayein
  69. He says his administration has set up drug helplines. drugs ki helplines humne daali hui hain
  70. He says he sits at the F-8 kachehri every Thursday and resolves CDA-related issues. har hafte Thursday wale din main F-8 kachehri mein baithta hoon aur yahi issue sunta hoon jo CDA related hon unko hum resolve karte hain
  71. He says those who do not choke municipal services or cause public nuisance will not be bothered. ke agar aap municipal services ko choke nahi kar rahe aur public nuisance nahi kar rahe to phir nobody will bother you
  72. He says CDA has said acquiring the F-12 and G-12 land is not feasible, given the compensation it would need to pay. CDA ne to kaha hai ke hum nahi usko acquire kar sakte hamare liye feasible nahi hai kyunki wahan pe jitne log hain agar unse zameen lein to uski jo compensation deni padegi
  73. He says a 22 billion rupee project with two hanging bridges has been approved. usmein 22 arab ka project hai usmein do bade bridges banne hain hanging bridges banne hain kyunki woh neeche bhi nahi ja sakte woh approve ho chuka hua hai
  74. He says population is the biggest challenge facing Pakistan. population is the biggest challenge of Pakistan
  75. He says Pakistan's crises are serious, but its positives are substantial. ab yeh crisis bahut bade hain lekin iske saath saath positive cheezein bhi bahut zyada hain
  76. He says the media and courts are independent, and the middle class is vocal. media aapka independent hai adalatain aapki independent hain hamari middle class is extremely vibrant and they are vocal
  77. He says Pakistan's youth should build their own enterprises rather than depend on government jobs. yeh Pakistan ki youth jo hai yeh Pakistan ki success banegi apni entrepreneurship karein aur usi ke upar sarkari naukriyon pe na jayein
  78. He predicts Pakistan will be an emerging, Asian tiger-type economy within 10 years. in the next 10 years Pakistan will be you know like jo Asian tiger type
  79. He says civil servants have the most at stake in the system, since they must stay in Pakistan. mera sabse zyada is system mein jiske stakes hain na woh hamari civil service hai kyunki humne to yahin rehna hai
  80. He is also the district magistrate, responsible for Islamabad's law and order. main district deputy commissioner ke saath saath main district magistrate bhi hu. Mera kaam hai Islamabad ka law and order maintain rakhna
  81. He says a civil servant is not a politician and must work without personal opinion. you are not a politician first of all. At the end of the day, you cannot theoretically work on your personal opinion