Wednesday 30 September 2015

Good Governance; Fortifying Pakistan’s Turnaround Story

ZoneAsia-Pk
Good Governance; Fortifying Pakistan’s Turnaround StoryThe Government of Pakistan has, till now, remained politically savvy. It has however now been tested with the present bout of tensions that have come forth in a rush. This is not the first time that the political leadership has come under the spotlight but repeated incidents, the tools testing the political waters, might dent the hopes that ‘democracy’ evokes.
The verdicts of the Election Tribunal against the Pakistan Muslim League–Nawaz (PML-N), while making the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) jubilate, has caused a stir in the PML-N’s domination of Punjab. Accountability issues have surfaced especially in the power sector. Not forgetting, that the power sector’s revitalization was the focal point on which the 2013 elections were based. The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) have failed; reflecting health and education as key causes of concern. Rational or not is another question but the traders, farmers, industrialists and the dairy sector have all stood up in reaction to the government enacted policies. Amidst the air of melancholia that looms large over the Government, all factors point towards a single structural entity: governance.
Governance has come about as a perennial issue in the political climate of Pakistan. As history clearly embarks upon the depressed timeline that Pakistan has encountered, it presents lessons to be learnt, followed and duly implemented. Governance has served as the vital ‘missing structure’ giving room to the military to leverage the political differences. The gap that the bad governance formed between the people and the politicos, at some points in Pakistan’s history, served as the tool for khakis’ rule. Efficiency, effectiveness, participation, ownership and accountability are the mechanisms that lay out good governance. All these variables are dependent upon the population census which is astoundingly missing. In 1998, the same government, under Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, carried out this task. News circulates regarding the constitutional duty being on government’s agenda once again but obligations more important in their nature are causing lags. It is realized that developmental projects at the local and national levels tend to remain undefined until the population density is known.
Discriminatory development has been defined as more harmful than non-development by economists. Sustainable development has long been knocking at the doors of the policy makers and the challenge should have been taken up. The mystical charm that the PPP had on its followers seems to be dying. This is the right time for the PML-N to solidify its popularity with its policies gearing good and effective governance. Although it has tried with its power generation ventures, communication network progression, transport up-gradation and economic revival, a lot is still to be done.
PML-N has strived hard to make power generation a core prerogative of the current government. In its endeavor to give an immediate relief to its vital supporters, the industrialists, the government suffered a set-back. It revealed its hastiness through the 425 Mega Watt (MW) Nandipur Power Project. Lacking the capacity to perform, the project could not justify its towering bills. Through the media accountability, this project catalyzed the belief in incompetence and possible chances of corruption. To counter the blame, the Punjab Chief Minister, instead of the Federal Minister for Power, came out strongly in defense of the project. Sanity suggests that this clarification might have weakened the standing of the government. Administration in-charge should have clarified the effectiveness, generating confidence among the people and the politicos themselves. Undoubtedly, the project languished due to failings of the previous government but this should have led the present government to focus on it. The Prime Minister has himself ordered two separate inquires in this case and has promised to set an example.
The government is trying hard to make the Quaid-e-Azam solar power plant, which is intended to be the world’s largest such venture, a success story. Reservations are gaining popularity in the case of the site, maintenance and operational framework that has been chalked out. It will not be wrong to say that this has cast a shadow on the future predictions for power generation. As a result of unpredictability, the Gadani Power Project has been reversed due to the increased fears of becoming a failure. It suggests that serious and effective feasibilities need to be prepared. The government will in no case be ready to spoil the high confidence, 66% according to PILDAT, of the people in the democracy.
The dangerous dengue spray issue that came up recently needs a pragmatic response. The Punjab Chief Minister acted promptly but an investigation will uncover the real lapses. If seen through the lens of the local government and the by-elections, the PML-N dominates highly. Also, the blanket protection from the strong vision of General Raheel has aided the Prime Minister in gaining importance and holistic support. However, the role of the government is also undeniable in pursuing policies that solidify the nation.
Ashamedly, the Global Nutrition Report 2015 highlighted that Pakistan has more than half of its children under the age of five with stunted or wasted growth. This is a cause of concern and the government needs to be attentive on these core issues. Sadly, Pakistan also falls in the list of 20 countries that have met only 20% of its World Health Assembly targets. It may undermine the reputation that the PML-N had long established in terms of its policy for economic upheaval. The government should focus on its vision that it presented in its manifesto. Their strategies need to represent a clear-cut aim vis-a-vis their government. As an effort, the government increased the national budget for education in the 2015 budget but that of the health remained almost untouched.
The Tax to GDP ratio remains low. To counter this, methods for multiplicative taxation, as recommended by the IMF, have been adopted. The traders and the business forums have heralded numerous drives of agitation but the government remains adamant. This is an initiative that was immensely appreciated as traders form a huge support for the PML-N. Its effort to bring the citizens in the tax net will indeed prove fruitful for the economy. However, as a feature of good governance, the government needed to consult with the functioning bodies before the application of the tax. It has also been noted the government, till now, has been helped by the favorable slump in the oil prices and realization of the IMF policies. On the other hand, the CPEC mission, with the vision of “One belt, One road”, is a strong initiative that received global recognition. The betterment in the macroeconomic indicators also serves as an evidence of the reforms of the government. However, the administration needs to understand that the micro events are also an integral part of the macro phenomena.
On the civil military front, both the institutions are on the same page and look strong to eliminate and shun all negative forces working against Pakistan. The nation is already experiencing their cumulative effect and has wiped off the vision that portrayed politicians enjoying a perpetual picnic. Also, the government has recently announced a package for Balochistan as well as the deprived and agitating farmer community. As Merik Grindle says, the government need not mystify good governance with democracy. It needs to truncate the issues by prioritizing them. If the main concerns are legitimately addressed, the vision of Forbes presenting Pakistan as a global turnaround story does not seem far away. The policy frame-work needs to portray Pakistan as a developmental state, endeavoring to include itself in the G-20 list soon.
While terrorism and natural calamities have hit Pakistan badly, the cohesion among its population serves as a real force. John Maynard Keynes once said in reference to Great Britain, “We are a poor nation and we must learn to live accordingly.” Not shattering the brilliant reputation that Pakistan has developed due to its recent projects, the people and the government need to understand this. Mired in poverty and backwardness, until and unless we take up pragmatism or make efficient uses of our natural and human resources, Pakistan’s turnaround story might remain a fragile dream. Governance indicators suggest that deep structural changes are needed to unleash the growth potential. Constitutional supremacy needs to be adopted amidst the logjams that have substantiated the course of development. It is clear that internal and external security threats have undermined Pakistan’s economic edge but if the right mechanism for governance is adopted, there is much reason and hope that Pakistan can soon see itself catapulted from a developing state to a developed nation.

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