THE long-awaited move to slash the size of the federal government in line with the stipulations of the 18th Amendment is a step in the right direction. A report in this paper has suggested that the Shehbaz Sharif government is working to merge some of the ministries, and combining or abolishing several functions that have been already devolved to the provinces but retained at the federal level for political reasons despite the abolition of the Concurrent List 14 years ago. There are 33 federal ministries comprising 40 divisions, according to the Cabinet Secretariat website. In addition, there are scores of federal bodies — remnants of the pre-devolution period — under the ministries to regulate different functions, such as higher and medical education. Many would be surprised to know that the Cabinet Division also controls the day-to-day affairs of Sheikh Zayed Hospital and the medical college attached to it in Lahore. What business does it have running a hospital in a province? Obviously, in obstructing the execution of the devolution agenda, the bureaucracy has a vested interest in protecting its financial perks. No wonder the government is being forced by the IMF to reduce its size in order to slash its burgeoning public-sector expenditure and bridge the runaway fiscal deficit under the new $7bn bailout.

While the 18th Amendment signified a watershed moment in Pakistan’s constitutional history as it strengthened federalism, the devolution agenda must not stop here. The unwillingness of our political parties to transfer political, administrative and financial powers to the grassroots through local governments reflects devolution’s unfinished agenda. A pivotal shift towards total decentralisation by empowering the districts — even smaller local units — with more autonomy and financial independence is imperative to deliver good governance and efficient public services. The passage of the 18th Amendment was only the first phase of devolution from the centre to the provinces. The second phase of devolution of powers from the provinces to the local government level is necessary if the nation is to truly reap the fruits of decentralisation. For that, the political parties should evolve a consensus and amend the Constitution to create permanent space for the third tier of government. Just like the federal government’s running a hospital in Lahore makes no sense, the provincial government has no business operating a school or a Basic Health Unit.

Published in Dawn, August 6th, 2024