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Public Adminstration QUESTION #9564
Question 1
The concept of 'lateral entry' was introduced in Pakistan's civil service reforms of 1973. What organizational problem does lateral entry address, and what potential risks does it create?
  • It addresses the shortage of technical expertise in generalist services by allowing direct entry of private sector specialists; risks include disruption of the promotion hierarchy and potential resistance from career civil servants✔️
  • It addresses the excessive power of the CSP by allowing other occupational groups to compete for ex-cadre posts; risks include undermining the merit principle if entry criteria are not uniform
  • It addresses regional underrepresentation in senior civil service by allowing direct appointment from provinces without competitive examination; risks include quality dilution
  • It addresses the problem of slow upward mobility within occupational groups by allowing inter-group transfers; risks include loss of specialized expertise within each group
Correct Answer Explanation
Lateral entry (introduced in 1973 reforms) allows persons from outside the regular civil service — particularly private sector specialists in areas like banking, insurance, economics — to enter directly at senior grades. This addresses the gap between civil service generalism and the specialized expertise needed for modern governance. Risks include undermining career civil servants' promotion prospects and potential politicization of appointment criteria.