The Planning Commission of Pakistan has revealed that a significant investment of Rs 150 billion is needed during the upcoming five-year plan to address poor governance indicators in the country. The plan, spanning from 2024 to 2029, aims to target key areas such as innovation, capacity building, performance management, service delivery, justice, police, research, and public sectors, including regulatory frameworks and statistics. The ultimate goal is to elevate Pakistan's service delivery standards above those of South Asian countries. The commission's report acknowledges the persistent lack of accountability and transparency at all levels within various government sectors, citing these issues as central to the problem of bad governance. Despite a spending of Rs 92 billion over the past decade to improve governance indicators, the situation has regrettably worsened compared to regional counterparts. The decision to resume long-term central planning comes in response to recommendations from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

The Central Development Working Party, the country's largest economic decision-making body, approved the IMF's suggestions, sending them to the National Economic Council for final approval. As part of the proposed plan, the Planning Commission emphasizes the need to enhance the efficiency of local governments and establish a sustainable, functional, and stable decentralized governance system at all levels. The implementation of the 18th constitutional amendment is highlighted to strengthen the local government system, ensuring inclusive governance, community empowerment, and effective service delivery at the grassroots level. To improve the service delivery of key institutions such as the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), Police, Judiciary, State Bank, NADRA, and the Competition Commission, the plan suggests creating a centralized database for prospective taxpayers.

Furthermore, it advocates for a robust performance management system to collect data from educational and development institutions, enabling effective accountability at both institutional and individual levels. The report identifies institutional corruption as a major challenge to governance improvement, affecting various sectors of the economy. To address this, recommendations include providing training and financial and administrative autonomy to federal and provincial institutions, including the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), Auditor General Office, and Federal Investigation Agency (FIA). The plan also emphasizes the importance of expediting justice delivery to promote the rule of law effectively. As Pakistan sets its sights on a comprehensive governance overhaul, the success of this ambitious five-year plan will play a crucial role in shaping the country's future trajectory.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)