An utterly abhorrent VIP culture.

THE recent delay in release of salaries of public servants in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) exhibits the alarming situation which the province might face in the coming months. KP outrightly failed in managing its expenses. On the one hand, the political class has its own patterns of behaviour, while, on the other, the senior bureaucracy seems to be interested in carving out more administrative units so that they may get new fiefdoms to rule over.

The chief interest of the bureaucracy lies in obtaining more perks and privileges out of an economy that is already struggling. The executive allowance is a glaring example of such benefits.

The superior services were created by the imperial power to raise a class of natives that may help them in keeping the subjects under control. Even after a passage of 75 years, we dearly cherish their legacies that were only exploitative in nature. Things get worse owing to the bloated size of the government machinery which is becoming difficult to manage.

Moreover, providing every officer with trappings, such as gas-guzzling SUVs and pickup trucks - or daalas in common parlance - along with heavily armed guards in full battle gear has already exacerbated the financial situation.

Besides the administrative services, the provincial police department has a track record that can be easily rated way below zero. In my opinion, there is no need for the police...