This paper looks at the case of Pakistan’s decentralization reform of 2001–09 and its impact on civil service management. A key point made in this paper is that the relationship between organizational change and civil service is, by no means, unidirectional. The issues are viewed in the context of decentralization, its opportunities, and outcomes for efficiency and equity. We then evaluate whether administrative decentralization has enhanced or diminished the potential for political and fiscal decentralization for service delivery in Pakistan.