KARACHI:
Since its inception, Pakistan has faced formidable challenges in politics, economics, security and governance, overshadowing its progress and prosperity. Despite reaching its 77th year of independence, there is still no clear roadmap for navigating out of these crises. This lack of direction suggests that, as in the past, Pakistan’s leaders may continue seeking quick-fix solutions to structural problems, often choosing the easy route. This has led many to wonder: is there even any blueprint? One potential solution that could help Pakistan overcome its challenges is technocracy — a system where experts and professionals lead the way in governance.
In simple terms, technocrats are specialists in their respective fields who are brought into the government to make decisions based on their technical knowledge and expertise. Unlike politicians, technocrats are chosen for their skills and expertise. Looking at the rest of the world, Singapore stands out as a shining example of what technocratic governance can achieve. When Singapore faced its own set of challenges decades ago, its leaders chose to rely on experts who knew how to get things done. They focused on long-term planning, using data and international expertise to stay on the road to success.
After 77 years of independence, Pakistan is still struggling for stability. The reason is that its leaders often lack the skills needed to solve the country’s problems. To turn things around, we need to bring in experts and let them take charge of making the necessary reforms.
Wahab Abbasi
Islamabad
