
18th Amendment is one of the biggest triumphs on the way to having a decentralised democratic government in Pakistan
MULTAN: The 18th Amendment is one of the biggest triumphs on the way to having a decentralised democratic government in Pakistan. It gives the provinces the primacy over their resources, which are being expropriated by the federal dispensation. The corrupt elements which benefit from unequal allocation of resources have always rejected the idea of the amendment, let alone having it enshrined it in the Constitution.
The amendment leaves little space for the state to squander the public money, and would allow the provinces to manage their affairs according to their required democratic management, rather than getting dictated to by the Centre. The amendment would also open the window for the provincial legislation of the local government. It makes it possible to come up with a framework that devolves power to all levels so that individuals of every stripe can have a say in the matters and policies affecting them, which would make politicians and policymakers formulate policies to serve public interest rather than for personal benefits.
Hamza Wyne
Published in The Express Tribune, May 11th, 2020.
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