Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Establishment Division, Senator Ahad Cheema, chaired a meeting on the Training Needs Analysis of the National School of Public Policy (NSPP), directing a research-based overhaul of its management courses to build a skilled, technologically capable and results-oriented civil service. The Secretary, Establishment Division, and senior officials of NSPP and the Establishment Division attended the meeting.
“The Government will reform the structure and curricula of NSPP’s management courses on the basis of credible research. We want a capable, competency-driven civil service that delivers measurable results and better services to citizens,” Senator Ahad Cheema said.
Senior officials and the consultant briefed the Federal Minister on the proposed evidence-based assessment, which will identify critical competency gaps and determine whether existing training translates into improved workplace performance, stronger institutions and better public-service outcomes.
Following the briefing, Senator Ahad Cheema directed that the scope of the exercise be revamped to provide a firm foundation for comprehensive curriculum reforms and a modern, outcome-oriented civil-service training system.
The Federal Minister emphasized that the analysis must identify the actual training requirements of civil servants at different stages of their careers, define the requisite skill sets for each programme, establish an appropriate competency framework, and determine the digital, data and technological capabilities required for effective public administration.
He directed that the review should assess whether training programmes are aligned with officers’ job responsibilities and national priorities. It should also examine policy and reform execution, leadership, ethics, accountability, institutional coordination, cohort composition and peer learning, as well as the need for pre-training evaluations, skill-based segmentation and tailored learning pathways.
Senator Ahad Cheema stressed that capacity building should not remain confined to existing mandatory programmes. He called for additional specialized and short-duration courses in digital governance, artificial intelligence, data-driven decision-making, public-policy formulation, project and financial management, regulatory governance, crisis management and effective public communication.
He further directed that modern learning methods—including case studies, simulations, problem-solving exercises, field assignments and technology-enabled learning—be incorporated into the training framework. Training effectiveness, he said, must be measured through visible improvements in job performance, policy execution, institutional coordination and service delivery, rather than merely through attendance or course completion.
The meeting was informed that the assessment has been developed through credible research and recognized national and international frameworks. Its methodology draws upon NSPP’s course outlines and Leadership Skills Framework, consultations with NSPP management, international leadership literature, and established training-needs and evaluation models.
The exercise will include more than 385 structured surveys of course participants, faculty members and stakeholders, interviews with NSPP’s senior leadership, and three to four focus-group discussions. Findings from these sources will be cross-validated to produce credible, practical and actionable recommendations.
Drawing upon the internationally recognized Kirkpatrick evaluation model, the analysis will go beyond measuring participant satisfaction and assess changes in officers’ workplace behaviour, job performance and public-service outcomes. NSPP’s programmes will also be benchmarked against four to five leading international public-service training institutions.
The consultant assured the Federal Minister that the exercise would diagnose existing competency gaps and institutional challenges and present an evidence-based roadmap for reform.
Senator Ahad Cheema reaffirmed that developing a professional, technologically capable and citizen-focused civil service remains a key priority of the Government of Pakistan. He directed all stakeholders to work in close coordination to ensure modernized curricula, expanded training opportunities, stronger institutions and better services for the people of Pakistan.
