LG: Missing link in Pak governance structure |
WHEN a street stays flooded for weeks, a primary school operates without teacher or a basic health unit lacks medicines, the failure is rarely federal or even provincial in nature.
It is local. Pakistan’s governance crisis does not begin in Islamabad or provincial capitals; it begins in neighborhoods, villages and districts where the state’s presence is weakest. Federal-provincial power disputes remain the core of Pakistan’s governance discussions, neglecting the vital need for a strong and operational local government system.
Governance, in its true sense, is not merely about authority; it is about the manner in which authority is exercised. It encompasses the principles of the rule of law, transparency, accountability, public service delivery, inclusivity, equality, representation and sustainable development. Sustaining these pillars from afar is unachievable. They necessitate an institutional presence at the foundational administrative levels, such as districts, tehsils and union councils. When this tier falters, is held back or is politically managed, governance appears centralized but operates in a fragmented manner.
The Constitution of Pakistan acknowledges the significance of local government. Pakistan’s local government system is enshrined in the 1973 Constitution through Articles 32 and 140-A, which mandate provinces to establish elected local governments and devolve political, administrative and financial authority to them. Local governments are thus a constitutional requirement, not just administrative units. Local governments have been established, abolished, reorganized and abandoned based on political expediency. A stable grassroots governance culture has been prevented by this........