On 11^th October, 2024, Mr. Tariq Bajwa, Former Governor State Bank of Pakistan addressed on “Administrative Discretion”, to the participants of the 41^st MCMC.

The Mr. Tariq introduced administrative discretion as flexible exercise of judgement that results in equal treatment of all. Administrative discretion gives dynamism to laws which are otherwise static. It is administrative discretion that makes a modern State intrusive and a welfare State in true sense. However, this discretion should be structured by the six principles of avoiding abuse of discretion. The guest speaker elaborated the six principles of Legality, Adequate Reasoning, Equality, Proportionality, Legitimate Expectation and Natural Justice. Public servants must work within the system and within these principles.

The guest speaker advised the participants to follow modern concepts of Citizen Charter, entrusting administrative tasks to independent Regulators, Co-regulation shared by the stake holders and Bargained Administration. He emphasized that in order to fulfil their true duty as civil servants, the participants, must not break law, be objective, fair, predictable, consistent, empathetic and resilient to external pressure.