SO long as the 18th amendment to the Constitution was not in place, there existed a reasonable balance in provinces’ rights and responsibilities vis-à-vis the federation.

The federation had the upper hand in acquiring and managing resources to run government business through the systems of governance which were in place for the preceding seven decades.

After the 18th amendment and the subsequent transfer of portfolios, like health, education, food security, etc., together with their budgetary resources, to the provinces, the provinces did not inherit the federation’s established systems of governance relating thereto.

Thus, the devolution resulting from the 18th amendment became a nightmare for the provinces to face a sudden pressure of work without adequate capacity and resources to handle or manage the challenges successfully.

The provinces’ systems were practically not ready to accept the new challenges because no homework in that context was ever done, and, second, because their administrative machinery lacked professional capacity and training to deliver.

In fact, the provinces still expect the federation to share most of the burden of work in areas like health, sanitation, emergencies, etc., instead of facing the music themselves.

The provinces may nevertheless be happy with having vast powers, resources and autonomy in the devolved fields on the basis of the 18th amendment. But they struggle to face challenges in the devolved domains without due support from the federation.

The scenario emerging from Covid-19 is well before us. There was no consistency in the decisions made at the centre and in the provinces. A confusing situation prevailed everywhere.

The nation did not see the type of unity and coordination that was on display in the past in emergency situations, like floods, earthquakes, terrorism, etc.

It can, therefore, safely be argued that, by and large, the 18th amendment has weakened the centre by making the provinces more autonomous, self-reliant and robust vis-à-vis the provisions made in the original Constitution of 1973.

To a reasonable extent, it seems that restoring the pre-amendment status of the federation by undertaking a dispassionate and rational review of the scenario prevailing after the said amendment is necessary.

As such, it is suggested that a nationwide debate at forums like parliament, cabinet and the media should be held to identify problem areas, and to offer such changes and modifications as are essential to promote harmony and cohesion among the provinces and federation in the times to come.

M.S. Ali Zia
Islamabad

Published in Dawn, January 28th, 2021