Acting President Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani met participants of the 38th Senior Management Course at Aiwan-e-Sadr, underscoring the civil service as the backbone that sustains state continuity and dignity. He noted that reaching senior management is not merely a professional milestone but recognition of years of disciplined public service and commitment.
Gilani highlighted the inland study tour as a vital element of the Senior Management Course, offering officers direct observation of government and parliamentary operations, administrative structures and the socio-economic contexts in which policy must function. He urged participants to use these practical insights to strengthen policy implementation and institutional responsiveness.
Reflecting on his experience as prime minister, he praised Pakistan’s civil servants for their competence and sense of duty, stressing that translating policy into practice and turning national vision into reality is a central role of the civil service. He identified e-governance and the responsible use of artificial intelligence as priority tools to boost transparency, efficiency and institutional capacity within the Senate Secretariat and across public institutions.
Gilani commended officers for their frontline role during recent floods, particularly in South Punjab, saying natural disasters have tested institutional capabilities and the public service ethos. He warned that rising environmental risks demand a service-oriented governance model and stressed that tackling climate change is not the task of a single ministry but a collective responsibility requiring close federal, provincial and community coordination.
On leadership at the Senior Management Course level, he urged senior officers to embrace cooperation, continuous learning, innovation and humility, noting that no single department can achieve national development goals in isolation. He called on participants to convert training and field experience into measurable outcomes that align national priorities with people-centered development.
Assuring the course members of parliament’s willingness to collaborate with reform-minded and proactive officials, Gilani encouraged them to serve Pakistan with honesty, insight and sincerity. A question and answer session at the close of the meeting reinforced his appeal for transparent, accountable and effective governance.
