Visit to an excise office
Though never credited as efficient in public service, the relaxing mood of the officialdom is to be seen to be believed.
The office was found in 'true to the spirit of omission' as all the rooms were locked by about 2 pm. There was no body, not even the watchman, to look after the office building.
The premises were presenting a deserted look and the lawns around the building, that have perhaps never been cared of, looked gloomy. It seemed as if the grass was never mowed. There was dust all around the building and in the long passage to office building. It was abundantly evident that the officials were strongly getting in 'why-to-bother' style.
Many people who have to visit the building complained that field officers of this wing were not punctual and the practice was causing inconvenience to people who came for queries or to settle their tax cases.
People complained that the inspectors and the lower staff often left the office in the name of field survey, never to return to the office for the day.
A complainant said that the staff must stay in the office till office timings or at least display their schedule and field visits so that visitors could come on those timings.
When the boss was asked about the complaints, he said that he was on leave and could not comment over the situation but added that the field staff often went to field for survey after 12 noon.
Before angry officers of the Department cry for my blood, let me clarify that this is what the POST, a Pakistani newspaper reported about the situation after the declaration of emergency in Pakistan.