‘Believe in the value of your perspective’: Five minutes with Sadia Haider, deputy secretary at Pakistan’s ministry of human resource development
In this sister series to our ‘Five minutes with’ interviews, we share insights from women civil and public servants as part of our Global Government Women’s Network coverage.
In this interview, Sadia Haider, deputy secretary at the Government of Pakistan’s Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development, tells GGF about creating systems that empower marginalised segments of society, her idea for building a more equitable pipeline of talent in the civil service, and why it’s “better to take imperfect steps forward than to stand still out of fear”.
What drew you to a career in the civil service?
I was drawn to the civil service because I believe it offers a unique platform to transform ideals into action. I wanted to be part of shaping policies that are not confined to boardrooms but truly reach the grassroots and improve people’s everyday lives.
My commitment to public service is also deeply personal. My father, who was himself a dedicated civil servant, gave his life in the line of duty when I was very young – barely three years old. Though I have only a child’s memories of him, his example and sacrifice have always been a quiet force guiding my aspirations. Carrying forward his legacy has become both a personal commitment and a tribute to the values he embodied.
Ultimately, what inspired me most was the opportunity to serve with purpose – to help build systems that are more inclusive, transparent, and responsive. I aspired to a career that would combine public impact with personal conviction, and the civil service was the place where I could honor that calling with integrity, dignity, and dedication.
What have you achieved in your career that you are most proud of?
Over the course of my 14-year career, I have been fortunate to contribute to several initiatives that I am proud of. As a team lead for Pakistan’s e-passport project, I upgraded passport issuance in the country to the latest generation of passport issuance. I also led the development of an e-learning initiative to address the shortage of qualified science teachers in remote schools, and established the SDG-11 Cell at the Capital Development Authority to advance sustainable urban development.
However, the project closest to my heart has been the operationalisation of electric buses in Pakistan’s capital city, Islamabad. Beyond being an environmentally friendly solution for public transport, this initiative was designed with a strong focus on social inclusion. When determining the routes, we obtained data from the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) to identify routes where female domestic workers travel daily. The routes were then selected to ensure that women working in households across the city would have safer, more reliable, and affordable transport options.
For me, this project embodies what public service should strive for: combining sustainability with equity, and creating systems that empower segments that are marginalised. Seeing these buses on the roads – knowing they are making everyday life a little easier and more dignified for countless women – is an achievement I hold very dear.
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Who is your heroine?
My heroine is my mother. After my father gave his life in the line of duty, she raised four children as a single parent under circumstances that were often challenging, and at times deeply isolating. Despite all the challenges, she made it her mission to ensure that we sisters received a professional education and grew into women who are not only financially independent but also able to create a meaningful impact in our community.
It was due to her courage and determination that my sister became the first girl in my paternal family to attend university – a milestone my mother fought hard to make possible. She consistently took a stand, even when it meant confronting longstanding expectations, and she supported us wholeheartedly in pursuing our dreams. Her resilience, dignity, and belief in the power of education have shaped the course of my life more than any other influence.
What is the best piece of advice you’ve been given in your working life?
The best advice I’ve received is that you don’t have to be perfect to make a meaningful impact. In environments where expectations are high and the stakes feel significant, it’s easy to believe that every decision must be flawless. But I was reminded that striving for perfection can often hold you back from taking action at all. It is far better to take imperfect steps forward than to stand still out of fear.
Over time, consistent effort and integrity will accomplish far more than waiting for the perfect plan or the perfect moment. This perspective has allowed me to embrace challenges with confidence, to see mistakes as opportunities for growth, and to stay committed to the purpose.
In your opinion, what are the implications if women are not adequately represented in decision-making roles in the public service?
When women are absent from senior decision-making roles, it weakens the principle of representative bureaucracy – the idea that public institutions should reflect the diversity of the society they serve. This lack of representation often means that policies and services are designed without fully understanding the realities and priorities of half the population.
Women leaders bring perspectives that help ensure the benefits of good governance reach marginalised groups, including women and children, who are often most affected by public policy. Without their voices at the table, critical issues like gender-based violence, equitable access to services, and economic participation may not receive the attention or resources they deserve. In the long term, this undermines both the legitimacy and the effectiveness of public institutions.
If you could introduce one gender equality related reform in the Pakistan Administrative Service, what would it be?
In the Pakistan Administrative Service, which is the service group I belong to, there is a striking imbalance: while women are well represented at the entry and mid-career levels, their presence becomes minimal (almost to the point of invisibility) at senior leadership tiers.
One of the key reasons for this disparity is that many female officers, for a range of personal and cultural reasons, remain posted within their home province or even the same city for much of their careers. In contrast, male colleagues are often more mobile, rotating through diverse regions and assignments across the country. Over time, this geographic mobility translates into broader professional exposure and richer field experience, which become decisive advantages when candidates are assessed for the most senior positions.
If I could introduce one reform, it would be to establish a gender-neutral rotation policy that ensures all officers, regardless of gender, gain comparable experience in varied geographic and operational contexts. This would mean that female officers, too, would serve in postings outside their home provinces and develop the same breadth of perspective and leadership readiness as their male counterparts.
Of course, such a policy would have to be implemented thoughtfully. It should be accompanied by enabling measures such as safe and adequate housing, family support arrangements, and flexible options during certain life stages to ensure that mobility does not become an undue burden. In the long term, this approach would help build a more equitable pipeline of talent and allow more women to advance to the highest levels of public leadership on the strength of equally diverse and substantive experience.
What advice would you give a woman eager to reach the top levels of the civil service?
My advice would be to believe, without compromise, in the value of your perspective and the legitimacy of your aspirations. You will inevitably encounter resistance – sometimes subtle, sometimes overt, but never let that define your sense of possibility. Stay grounded in your purpose and remember why you chose this path: to serve people and to create systems that are fairer, more transparent, and more inclusive. Surround yourself with mentors and allies who share those values. Finally, never underestimate the power of your own story. Whether you come from privilege or adversity, your journey can inspire others to step forward and lead. Carry that responsibility with dignity.
What can men in senior roles do to help advocate for female colleagues and to ensure they have influence in their teams and organisations?
Men in senior roles can actively sponsor talented women by recommending them for high-impact assignments and leadership roles. They should challenge bias when they see it, support flexible work policies, and normalise diverse leadership styles. Most importantly, they can use their influence to make gender equality a shared priority, not just a women’s issue.
What attributes do you most value in people?
I value integrity, empathy, and the courage to take responsibility. People who are honest about their intentions, considerate of others’ perspectives, and willing to stand by their decisions earn my deepest respect.
What is your favourite thing to do at weekends?
My favourite way to spend the weekend is simply enjoying quality time with my husband and children. I love going for an evening walk, watching my son train at his football academy, and playing in the sand with my daughter and her sand toys. Those moments, however simple, are deeply grounding and bring me a sense of joy and balance.
Read more from the Global Government Women’s Network series of ‘Five minutes with’ interviews:
‘Making the system more equitable for those who follow’: Five minutes with Dr Ranjana Sharma, chief scientist, Natural Resources Canada
The power of quiet persistence: Five minutes with Vanna Aldin, chief economist at the UK work and pensions department
About Mia Hunt
Mia has been editor of globalgovernmentforum.com since 2019. She has 15 years’ experience as a journalist and editor and specialises in writing for civil and public servants worldwide, including covering sustainability policy and related issues. She has led the Global Government Women’s Network since it launched in 2023. Previously, she covered commercial property having been market reports and supplements editor at Property Week and deputy editor at Retail Destination. She graduated from Kingston University London with a first-class honours degree in journalism and was part of the team that produced The River newspaper, which won Publication of the Year at the Guardian Student Media Awards in 2010.
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