Professor Rehman Sobhan on Thursday said Dr Akbar Ali Khan, as a civil servant, was "exceptional" in a period where "integrity and objectivity were progressively eroding" in the culture of the bureaucracy. “The discussants duly emphasized on his academic prowess. But we also need to explore his life as a civil servant," said Rehman Sobhan, renowned economist and Chairman of Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD), while speaking at a webinar. Remembering eminent economist and former caretaker government advisor Dr Khan, Sobhan also said Dr Khan stood firm and he had to pay the price for it periodically. Professor Rounaq Jahan, Distinguished Fellow, CPD emphasized on the contribution Akbar Ali Khan made through his writing in the public sphere.  “From his writing, it becomes visible that he was an academic at heart. He believed in promoting reforms, and when he talked about reforms he was very objective about it. He wanted more discussion and debate on his work and writings, which say that he was a believer of public reasoning,” she said.