The system syndrome

The contention that the present system is not delivering is not new. It has been debated for decades, as we experimented with democracy, authoritarianism, technocratic setups, and, of course, a hybrid dispensation. The fact is that governance is infected with lethargy, corruption, and a sense of ad hocism. For this, no single entity or party is to be blamed, and thus finger-pointing is of no use. We are all in it, and each one of us who has had the opportunity to be at the helm is responsible for this sordid state of affairs. The admission from Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi that the system has 'collapsed' should come as an opportunity in disaster to kick-start a dialogue among all the stakeholders, including even those who stand 'outlawed' and 'marginalised'. The discourse will surely lead to tangible recommendations for nation-building in all sincerity.

Pakistan's pivotal concerns in terms of good governance have been the absence of the rule of law, weak national institutions exposed to interference, and non-abidance of the Constitution. Coupled with this is our inability to reorient a viable economic system, despite being rich in natural resources and having a four-season agrarian landscape. Adding to the misery is the lack of industrialisation and our poor investment in education, health, and the social tiers of public empowerment, as well as the phenomenon of a population explosion. All these have impacted our national upbringing, and the populace now rightly complains of injustice, uneven distribution of resources, and a lopsided legal-political system that is inefficient to the core.

The point is that there is no quick fix, either. Carving out more administrative units or provinces, as indicated by the interior minister, is only one aspect of a complicated paradigm. All that is desired is an open-ended debate on our system of government by carefully studying adaptations that can work wonders within our limited resources. The treasury, opposition, minorities, and civil society must sit in judgment for a thorough introspection of our ills and recommend remedies. Dislodging one stratum to experiment with a new paradigm is no solution.