Zubair Qureshi
Pakistan’s bureaucrats are the backbone of public service and their contribution makes us proud as well as truly defines what public service true sense of the word means. These views were expressed by Senator Lt General (R) Abdul Qayyum on Saturday while speaking at an online condolence reference organized by the Development Communications Network (Devcom-Pakistan) and DTN.
The webinar held in memory of late environmentalist and distinguished officer of the Pakistan Administrative Services (PAS) Khalid Sherdil who was among the unfortunate passengers of the ill-fated PIA plane that crashed on May 22.
Lt Gen Qayyum said there were very few bureaucrats who work beyond the call of duty and AK Sherdil, father of Khalid Sherdil and later Khalid himself were one of them. So, we can say it runs in their blood, said the general adding the son proved to be a son of the soil till he breathed the last in the plane crash. As a founding CEO of the Punjab Disaster Management Authority (PDMA), he set steadfast and upright policies and practices to mitigate the emergencies in the provinces which turned to be example for others.
Ali Tauqeer Sheikh, former CEO Lead Pakistan and Director Asia for the Climate Knowledge and Development Network (CKDN), said only a few bureaucrats have deep understanding of environment, climate change and sustainable development.
Khalid Sherdil was one of them who not only understood the sustainable development but also practiced and mainstreamed in the public policies. He was very focused and master of multi-tasking.
Dr Tauqeer Hussain Shah, a senior bureaucarat and former Principal Secretary to the Punjab Chief Minister, said Khalid Sherdil played the most crucial role in organizing PDMA as the coordinating authority that provides a platform for all departments to come together and strategize the preparedness and response to a disaster. As the founder and the first Director General of PDMA, Khalid Sherdil has worked on Pakistan’s largest ever calamity, the massive Floods of 2010. Mr. Sherdil has also rendered services to provide relief and rehabilitation in the difficult times followed by the Turkish Earthquake, Sindh Floods 2011, and Sialkot Tornado 2011. Besides Dengue, Khalid has also written a technical report for Ontario Government on West Nile virus, a mosquito vector epidemic.
WWF-Pakistan Director General Hammad Naqi Khan termed the death of Khalid Sherdil as a national loss. He was gem in the public service where most of the people habitually waste time and resources. He was full of energy, innovative potential and doable ideas that he reflected the public policy documents. He left a vigorous legacy in the public service that should continue.
Devcom-Pakistan Director Munir Ahmed said Khalid Sherdil was a man of sheer commitment to the environment and a fine leader in the realm of sustainable development and a humanist with all dedicated to reach out to the communities. His services and practices could be example for other bureaucrats and public servants to serve the people of Pakistan.
Among others who spoke on the occasion included Majid Sherdil, Memoona Arsalan, Iqbal Qureshi, Qaiser Jamali, Saba Sarfaraz, Rina Saeed Khan, Suleman Otho, Dr Amena Hasan, Nilofar Jamil, Hina Lotia, Bilal Mutafa Syed, Huma Beg, Masroor Ahmad, Azhar Qureshi, Razeshta Sethna, and Prof Imdad Hussain.
