A good governance of any country demands some objectives and will to serve the nation and not to govern only. Those who want to govern must know to listen. Over riding purposes of good governance are to ensure the security, stability, solidarity of the country and life and liberty of the citizens. In present era a good politician has to be a good economist. Bad governance could lead to disintegration of the country as we experienced in East Pakistan tragedy and recent financial crisis as we were touching the frontiers of bankruptcy. Sometimes commendable welfare projects of the government also face failure and get a negative response as nation witnessed in the mismanagement of flood relief program in Sindh, free Atta Scheme in Punjab, and release of terrorists from KPK jails and establishment of lungars, shelters as if Pakistan is a refugee camp.
The Parliamentarians take over the government with inadequate knowledge of governance and administration to counter this difficulty experienced bureaucracy is available and the politicians should learn to handle this device adeptly to achieve the objective of good governance. The governments depends too much on Administrative services group. A rationale has to be adopted among all groups of civil service.
The politicians often demand creation of sub divisions and districts without being mindful of their financial implications. Practically the administrative service group seems to have failed to control their lowest organs of the revenue department known as Patwari, smuggling, black marketing, hoarding, distribution of free Atta scheme, and above all to implement National Action Plan which is extremely essential to curb and crush terrorism. Efforts for the return of illegal Afghan immigrants is also of paramount importance.
To address the menace of red-tape in civil service Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) has been setup. Foreign investors are unwilling to deal with our bureaucracy for several reasons. The character, morality, merit, and ideology are inculcated in academic institutions. The last Speaker of United Pakistan, Fazal-ul-Qadir Chaudhry, hailing from East Pakistan, was questioned at the airport asto what happened in East Pakistan that resulted in disintegration. He replied that the students had made Pakistan and now they have dismantled it.
The 18th Amendment failed to safe guard the vital element of integration, the education system. It shattered the educational structure at federal level. Now there is no education policy to set forth the national curriculum, higher education policy and foreign training coordination. Therefore, the matter should amicably be reviewed for the unity of standard of education as the civil service is selected at the national level. Now the provinces are devising their own education policies and curriculum, oblivious of requirements of national solidarity.
Another special feature which has affected fiscal system includes unwise and hasty decision, embarking upon welfare projects without sufficient planning. In 2023-24, last year budget, the Finance Minister announced an increase in salaries upto 35%. It was an unwise decision because there was no such pressing demand nor the financial position could cater for this burden. The next day the same Minister destroyed the pension system without realizing that every serving civil servant has to retire and he cannot appreciate the mishandling of pension system.
If the government is serious and sincere for the welfare of public at large they should abstain from increasing privileges of parliamentarians. Secondly the government should cancel immediately the detrimental agreements of IPPs. Thirdly the colossal amount of Special Development Project (SDP) distributed to parliamentarians running in billions should be discontinued forthwith. Fourthly to increase exports industrial sector should not be chained with high bank rate and expensive rate of electricity in which situation the industrialists cannot compete in international market. Fifthly the filer system should be simplified. People should be allowed to deposit some amount in the bank direct without the interference of Income Tax department. The bank receipt should serve as Filer Certificate. The CBR should announce categories specifying amount for each category to be deposited in the bank. Sixthly the number of national flags should be reduced.
Futile efforts of too much publicity and protocol are also like an epidemic. Once a high-level Indian delegation came via Chakothi. They were surprised to see so many banners of unknown faces of PPP at Chakothi and Kohala. Once a meeting of IBCC had been held in Rawalkot and Benjosa. One political personality of PPP from Sindh province holding no official position came there with entourage of 38 vehicles and IBCC members were thrown out of guest houses. MBBS Medical College Mirpur stands for Mohtrama Benazir Bhutto Shaheed Medical College Mirpur. BISP stands for Benazir Income Support Program. Asifa Bhutto University Bagh AJK. Chaudhry Ghulam Abbas, Sardar Muhammad Ibrahim Khan, Sardar AbdulQayyum Khan, K.H. Khurshid, Syed Ali Gillani and Syed Ali Hamdani deserve more for this purpose.
It is crystal clear that distribution of cash money leads to corruption and beggary. As is apparent every crossing point the beggars are larger in number than before. If the BISP supports the needy people then why not these deserving beggars. In case they are not deserving then they should not be allowed to beg. They should be confined in shelters. When Zakat fund, Bait-ul-Mal and other charitable NGOs are available for the poors why BISP with huge budget and infrastructure. This amount should be shifted to bank loans. There is no denying the facts that Mohtrama Benazir Bhutto Shaheed stands at the top of Pakistan political arena next to her great father. She does not need such publicity as beauty needs no ornament.
The incumbent Chief Minister Punjab, Marrayam Nawaz, is, no doubt, dedicated to improve the fate and future of Punjab. She feels the pain of the poor. She should safe guard from too much publicity and let action speak louder than words. Distribution of cash money and supply of perishable commodity should be avoided. The awards and incentives for excellence however should continue. Top priority efforts should be undertaken to save every drop of rain water, flood water, building water reservoirs to prepare for the predicted drought which is round the corner. Small lakes should be sponsored by the political workers. Earning by saving should be motto of Punjab government to generate confidence in the public. The shops, business concerns and institutions should be bound to open not later than 9am. The defaulters should be penalized. It would encourage early rising habits in the nation and saving of energy.
The Writer is Retired Additional Chief Secretary and Advocate Supreme Court of AJK.
*******
Discover more from Press for Peace Publications
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
