PESHAWAR: Pakistan needed comprehensive political, administrative, economic and social reforms, rather than merely a change of governments, to become a strong, prosperous, sovereign and developed state, speakers at a press briefing said here on Monday.
The briefing was organised by Pakistan Reforms Institute (PRI). Members of the institute’s think tank committee Khurshid Alam, Faisal Shah Safi and Barrister Fazal Majeed Khan shared a set of reform proposals during the briefing at Peshawar Press Club.
They called for structural changes in the country’s political and administrative systems to address governance challenges and accelerate economic development.
Speaking on the occasion, Khurshid Alam said that political parties should ensure regular intra-party elections, financial transparency and merit-based distribution of tickets. Ordinary political workers should be given opportunities to rise to leadership positions, while dynastic politics should be discouraged, he added.
Members of think tank seek national debate on new provinces
He also proposed increasing the minimum voting age to 25 years, arguing that a more mature electorate would be better equipped to make informed choices when electing its representatives.
Mr Alam said that local bodies should be granted genuine financial, administrative and political authority. Local government elections should be held regularly and elected representatives provided with adequate powers and resources to address issues relating to education, healthcare, sanitation, drinking water, roads and other basic civic facilities, he said.
He said that development funds allocated to members of the National Assembly and provincial assemblies should be transferred to elected local government institutions. The primary responsibilities of legislators were lawmaking, policymaking and oversight of the government, while the planning and execution of local development projects should be entrusted to local bodies, he added.
Faisal Shah Safi, the provincial president of Beverages Industries Association, said on the occasion that industrialisation and economic self-reliance required promotion of local industries, domestic production of raw material, investment and exports.
He said that government should ensure provision of electricity, gas, water, roads and other basic infrastructure to industrial zones and introduce supportive policies for small industries.
Barrister Fazal Majeed Khan, general secretary of Jalozai Industrialists Association, called for a national debate on creation of new provinces.
He said that population, geographical area, administrative requirements, geographical conditions and public aspirations should be taken into consideration while examining proposals for new provinces.
The division of larger provinces on administrative grounds could bring governance closer to people, improve administrative management and facilitate a fairer distribution of resources, he said.
Mr Khan also called for broadening the country’s tax net and making the taxation system simpler and fairer. Unnecessary tax burdens on business and industrial sectors should be reduced, while tax refunds owed to industrialists and exporters should be paid without delay, he added.
He said that merit, performance and accountability must become the guiding principles in government departments. Measurable performance indicators should be introduced to assess public officials and institutions, ensuring effective utilisation of public resources and improved governance, he said.
Calling for judicial and police reforms, he said fundamental changes were required to ensure speedy, affordable and impartial justice and to reduce delay in the disposal of cases.
The police should be transformed into a professional, public-friendly institution free from political interference, he said. He added that appointments and transfers of police officers should be made strictly on merit to ensure equal protection and rights for citizens.
Published in Dawn, November 3rd, 2026
