From Bosses to Servant Leaders: Rethinking Organizational Culture in Pakistan

For decades, Pakistan’s institutions have been shaped by a rigid bureaucratic culture – marked by hierarchy, red tape, and command-and-control structures. But in a rapidly changing world, this “Babu mindset” no longer meets the needs of dynamic organizations and an empowered workforce. What Pakistan needs today are leaders who serve rather than rule, who inspire rather than dictate, and who foster collaboration, innovation, and trust.

This session explores the urgent need to rethink organizational culture in Pakistan – from public service to private enterprise – and asks how we can shift from bureaucracy to servant leadership. What challenges stand in the way of this transformation? And what opportunities exist for building institutions that are people-centered, accountable, and future-ready?

● About the Speaker:

» Shahid Soomro is a career civil servant belonging to the 29th Common of the Inland Revenue Service. He is currently posted at FBR Headquarters as Chief (Projects). Mr. Soomro is an Australia Awards and Chevening Scholar, holding a degree in Project Management from RMIT University, Australia, and studied Strategic Management of projects in University College London. He has professional certifications in Monitoring and Evaluation and Regulatory Impact Assessment from the Institute of Public-Private Partnership (IP3) in Washington, DC, USA. Moreover, he holds certification in Western Philosophy from Hillsdale College, Michigan USA.