SUMMARY of the [Good Governance], [Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry], [Published on May 19th, 2024]

Successive Pakistani governments have failed to deliver good governance due to chronic political instability, inconsistent economic policies, weak institutions, pervasive corruption, and lack of accountability. These issues have led to mismanagement of resources, unsustainable debt, poor public services, and growing disparities, causing a loss of trust in the government and state institutions. The root cause of these problems lies in the flawed practice of

parliamentary democracy, where elected representatives prioritize personal gains over public interest.

The current political system, where MNAs (Members of the National Assembly) focus on recouping election expenses and securing benefits for their constituents rather than legislating, undermines good governance. The prime minister, in turn, becomes a hostage to the MNAs’ demands, seeking support from state institutions to remain in power. Unlike countries with stable parliamentary systems and non-politicized state institutions, Pakistan’s governance suffers from inefficiency and politicization.

To achieve good governance, Pakistan needs to reform its parliamentary system, rationalize provincial sizes, devolve resources to local governments, and establish a national security council. However, these reforms require national consensus and constitutional amendments, which are long-term processes. In the short term, measures such as setting up elected local governments, facilitating industrialization, promoting self-reliance, enforcing government authority, and empowering the Election Commission for transparent elections are essential. A governance system that ensures citizens’ safety, security, dignity, and prosperity must be prioritized.

Easy/Short SUMMARY:

Pakistan’s failure in good governance stems from political instability, weak institutions, and corruption. Elected representatives prioritize personal gains over public service, undermining democracy. Reforms are needed to strengthen local governments, promote industrialization, and ensure transparent elections. A system that prioritizes citizens’ well-being is crucial.

SOLUTIONS of The Problem:

Short-term Measures:

1. Establish Elected Local Governments:

– Improve public service delivery by setting up elected local governments (LGs).
– Allow MNAs and MPAs to focus on legislation.

1. Facilitate Industrialization:

– Encourage wealth creation by easing business regulations.
– Attract domestic investors who have parked their capital abroad.

1. Promote Self-reliance:

– Reduce dependency on foreign aid.
– Open the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) framework to domestic investors.
– Encourage industries that create employment and promote import substitution.

1. Enforce Government Authority:

– Establish a strong government presence to attract investments.

1. Empower the Election Commission:

– Use electronic voting machines for transparent elections.
– Ensure democratic practices within political parties.

Long-term Reforms:

1. Revisit Parliamentary System:

– Reform the parliamentary form of government for better functionality.

1. Rationalize Provincial Sizes:

– Increase the number of provinces for improved governance.

1. Devolve Resources:

– Transfer resources devolved under the 18th Amendment to the local level of governance.

1. Establish a National Security Council:

– Create an integrated decision-making body under the elected prime minister’s leadership.

IMPORTANT Facts and Figures Given in the article:

• Successive Pakistani governments have failed to provide good governance.
• Chronic political instability, inconsistent economic policies, weak institutions, corruption, and lack of accountability are major issues.
• Mismanagement of resources, unsustainable debt, and poor public services have led to growing disparities and loss of trust in government.
• The flawed practice of parliamentary democracy is identified as the root cause of governance problems.
• Reforms needed include establishing local governments, promoting industrialization, enforcing government authority, and empowering the Election Commission.

MCQs from the Article:

1. What is identified as the root cause of governance issues in Pakistan?
   A. Economic instability
   B. Flawed practice of parliamentary democracy
   C. Weak judiciary
   D. Foreign interference

– Correct Answer: B. Flawed practice of parliamentary democracy

1. Which short-term measure is suggested to improve public service delivery?
   A. Increasing the number of provinces
   B. Establishing elected local governments
   C. Reforming the parliamentary system
   D. Creating a national security council

– Correct Answer: B. Establishing elected local governments

1. What is one long-term reform proposed in the article?
   A. Promoting import substitution
   B. Empowering the Election Commission
   C. Rationalizing the size of provinces
   D. Facilitating industrialization

– Correct Answer: C. Rationalizing the size of provinces

1. Why is the prime minister described as a hostage to MNAs?
   A. Due to international pressure
   B. To secure development funds for MNAs
   C. Because of the judiciary’s influence
   D. Due to bureaucratic inefficiency

– Correct Answer: B. To secure development funds for MNAs

1. What is essential for ensuring good governance, according to the article?
   A. Increasing foreign aid
   B. Strengthening local governments
   C. Promoting international trade
   D. Enhancing military power

– Correct Answer: B. Strengthening local governments

VOCABULARY:

1. Chronic (adjective) (مزمن): Persisting for a long time or constantly recurring.
2. Pervasive (adjective) (وسیع): Spreading widely throughout an area or group of people.
3. Ostensibly (adverb) (بظاہر): Apparently or purportedly, but perhaps not actually.
4. Recoup (verb) (وصول کرنا): Regain or recover something lost or expended.
5. Fragile (adjective) (ناتواں): Easily broken or damaged.
6. Politicized (adjective) (سیاسی): Made political or subject to political influence.
7. Meritocracy (noun) (میرٹ کی بنیاد پر): A system in which advancement is based on individual ability or achievement.
8. Devolve (verb) (منتقل کرنا): Transfer or delegate (power) to a lower level.
9. Consensus (noun) (اتفاق): General agreement among a group of people.
10. Impartial (adjective) (غیر جانبدار): Treating all rivals or disputants equally; fair and just.

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dawn.com
Good governance
Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry
5–6 minutes

SUCCESSIVE governments, both elected and military, have failed to provide good governance to Pakistan. A perfect storm created by chronic political instability, inconsistent economic policies, weak institutions, pervasive corruption, and lack of accountability has hit our country. Add to that the gross mismanagement of scarce resources, the accumulation of unsustainable debt, and pathetic public service delivery, and it is no wonder that Pakistanis are losing trust in their government and state institutions. Inequitable distribution of resources has created horizontal and vertical disparities. Millions of people have fallen below the poverty line. There is no social justice or equal opportunity. Nor are people’s basic needs being met or their human rights being respected.

Experts have written on what ails governance in Pakistan. Studies have advised on how to extricate our economy from poor governance. However, if one were to identify the root cause of these ills, it is not the economy but the way parliamentary democracy is practised here.

Take, for instance, the role of a ruling party MNA who has spent a certain amount of money on elections. Ostensibly, his (or her) priorities would include: recovering the amount spent on the poll campaign, securing contracts and government jobs for his constituents; getting an executive position; and ensuring that the local government system does not take root lest development funds move out of his domain and end up with LG representatives. None of these priorities relate to his actual responsibility of negotiating and legislating on public interest issues.

It is essentially no different if this MNA is in the opposition. He would have to find a way to recoup the funds spent on his election campaign, or team up with like-minded colleagues to bring the government down. Legislation is the least of his priorities.

A fragile political system cannot deliver.

The prime minister is a hostage to the MNAs. If he does not facilitate the allocation of sufficient development funds for them, he runs the risk of a vote of no-confidence. To remain in power, he looks around to seek help from other state institutions — the bureaucracy, judiciary, army — rather than leading them as chief executive of the country or inspiring their confidence to work within their respective mandates.

Such a fragile political system cannot deliver good governance. One may ask why the parliamentary form of governance works well in countries like Japan, Italy and the Netherlands, where politics is nearly as unpredictable as it is in Pakistan. A major reason is that these countries have not experienced military interventions in recent history, and the governance system has refined itself over electoral cycles. The other reason is that their state institutions, particularly the bureaucracy, judiciary, and the armed forces, are not politicised, and maintain their independence and meritocracy. An efficient and competent civil service coupled with an impartial judiciary is the steel frame that ensures the rule of law. If these two institutions are functioning on the basis of merit, governance remains functional regardless of which political party is in power.

For Pakistan to take the road to good governance, the parliamentary form of government, as is being practised here, needs to be revisited. The size of the provinces should be rationalised by increasing their number to facilitate better governance. The resources devolved to them under the 18th Amendment should be transferred to the local level of governance. We should also set up a national security council for integrated decision-making under the leadership of the elected prime minister. However, these measures require national consensus and constitutional amendments, which would take a long time.

The focus, therefore, should be on doable measures that do not require constitutional amendments. These would include: (i) setting up elected LGs for better public service delivery, and letting MNAs and MPAs devote their time to legislation; (ii) encouraging wealth creation by facilitating industrialisation and ease of doing business, and attracting domestic investors who have parked their capital abroad; (iii) working towards self-reliance: expect no foreign dole-outs, open up the SIFC framework for domestic investors, encourage industries that create employment, expedite economic zones, encourage import substitution, regulate food cartels, and encourage regional trade; (iv) not compromising on establishing the government’s writ, otherwise investments won’t come in; and (v) empowering the ECP to use electronic voting machines for transparent polls, and ensuring democratic practices within political parties.

A governance system that does not ensure the safety, security, dignity, and prosperity of ordinary citizens must be reformed.

The writer is chairman of Sanober Institute Islamabad.

Published in Dawn, May 19th, 2024