LAHORE – Speakers at a discussion on administrative reforms called for political consensus, stronger local governments and continuity in state policies, warning that Pakistan could not afford to waste its economic and human potential amid mounting internal and external challenges. The discussion, titled “More Provinces or Empowered District Governments”, was organised by the People’s Information Bureau and Bhutto Shaheed Foundation at the SAIFMA Auditorium. Senior PPP leader Chaudhry Aitzaz Ahsan said Pakistan needed a broad and organised movement to overcome its problems, warning that the country was “eating the future generations” by relying heavily on debt. He said local governments were not a substitute for new provinces and called for regular local elections. He said Pakistan’s problems had become so serious that political leaders needed to consider the country’s international interests while framing policies. He also criticised political divisions and called for greater national unity. PPP Central Punjab Information Secretary Shahzad Saeed Cheema described the 1973 Constitution as a social contract and said Pakistan’s basic problem was not a lack of authority but its distribution. He questioned whether provinces had actually become empowered after the 18th Amendment. Analyst Imtiaz Alam said Pakistan’s main problem was an authority-driven system. He questioned whether provinces had devolved sufficient powers to local governments despite the 18th Amendment. He also criticised the failure to regularly convene the Council of Common Interests. Barrister Aamir Hassan defended constitutionalism and said new provinces should be created through the constitutional process. He stressed that political differences should not be used to undermine democratic institutions and warned against making the armed forces a target of political criticism. Pakistan English Media Association (PEMA) representative and senior journalist Intikhab Hanif said that successive governments had introduced major policies and initiatives, only for their successors to reverse them after a change in government.
This policy inconsistency, he said, had cost the country dearly. He noted that no government allowed sufficient debate on the merits and shortcomings of its policies while in power, while those who supported such policies often began finding faults with them after the government was removed. He called for state policies to be formulated through consultation with all relevant stakeholders so that they enjoyed broad ownership and could be continued by successive governments.
Brigadier (retd) Dr Amin Amir Bahadur Hoti said political parties also had a role in bringing the military into politics. He called for national unity and warned that the debate over new provinces should not become as divisive as the Kalabagh Dam controversy.
PTI leader Ahmed Owais alleged that a system was operating in Pakistan without adequate regard for the Constitution and law and said restrictions on freedom of expression had made it difficult to openly discuss national issues.
