Crisis of Good Governance in Pakistan: Need For Reform and Institution Building

Crisis of Good Governance in Pakistan: Need for Reform and Institution
Building
1. Introduction
Pakistan is not a failed state but a badly governed one. Good governance is the
inevitable element of a state the absence of which deteriorates the public welfare. With
measured reforms and institutionalization, governance can be made better in the
country.
2. Attributes of Good Governance

– General Public Welfare and State’s Health
– Health, Education, Standard of Living
– Provision of fundamental rights
– Provision of Basic Necessities
3. Crisis of Good Governance in Pakistan

– Sectors badly governed in Pakistan
– Institutions badly governed in Pakistan
4. Causes of Good-Governance Crisis

– Personalization rather than institutionalization
– Corruption and nepotism
– Ineffective short-term policies
– Wrongly set priorities
– Weak accountability
– Weak state governing institutions
– Political instability
5. Reforms and Institution Building

– Strengthening the state institutions
– Making the state institutions independent of undue influence
– Effective implementation of laws
– Empowering accountability and law-enforcing agencies
– Ensuring political stability and nurturing the healthy growth of democratic system
6. Contemporary Governance in Pakistan

7. Conclusion
Pakistan is a state rich in resources and talent but badly governed. A brief history of
country since 1947 reveals how different modes of governance have been brought into
experiment under various civil and military regimes in Pakistan.
Good governance, in general, refers to the measures of a government which bring

welfare to the public lives and state as a whole. Contrary to that, crisis of good
governance is the continuous failure of a government to govern the state and its
subjects effectively. Scales to measure good governance varies just as vary its levels in
different government sectors.
If Pakistan is considered under the said definition, it gets obvious that the governments
of the country failed most of the time in governing it well. The reasons behind this failure
are mostly found in the factors of corruption, immoral politics, authoritarianism and
dearth of leadership.
Crisis of good governance in Pakistan is not a new concept. It has been contested for a
long time. Even today, when the neighboring country like China has evolved from its
roots into a well governed state, Pakistan still lags behind in devising a clear
mechanism of governance reforms and institution building.
Crisis of good governance can be understood only when one gets to know about the
attributes and features of good governance. Among these attributes ‘General Public
Welfare and State’s Health’ come the first. Good governance is attributed with the
welfare of the masses. If the people of a state are living a good life with all the
fundamental rights and the basic necessitates secured, it can be said that the state is
well governed. Another part of this is health of state. It can be measured in economic,
defense and political strength of a country. A state when healthy in its defense and
politico-economic outlooks is usually well governed. Further, good governance brings
an overall better standard of life. It can be said in a way that the attributes of good
governance vary in the eyes of a common man, a ruler and a state as a political entity.
Crisis of good governance is the name of a situation when all the attributes mentioned
above are missing or replaced by the social and political abnormalities. These
abnormalities can be in the form of agents which deteriorates the levels of good
governance. Pakistan is in state of governance crisis. Its apparent manifestations can
be seen in the declined public health, illiteracy and poverty. Another important way to
judge the crisis of governance in Pakistan comes in shape of the weak state institutions
and mismanaged state-controlled enterprises. For instance, the decline of Pakistan
Steel Mills and Pakistan International Airlines speak how crisis of good governance
swallowed these mighty revenue-producing sectors. Similarly, take example of judiciary
as state institution. It has been suppressed by the executive throughout the history of
the country. There has always been a rift at some level in civil and military leadership of
country. This accounts for a major factor behind the crisis of good governance in
Pakistan which comes in shape of clash between the state institutions thus adversely
affecting their performance.
Among the primary causes of the crisis of good governance in Pakistan comes first the
personalization of things rather that institutionalization. Institutions are important to
every state. When these institutions become hostage to persons they begin to deviate
from the principles of good governance. In Pakistan, during the military rules, the
institutions of executive, legislature and even judiciary have brought into personalization
of the ruling dictator. This helped in rendering the will of the dictator superior over the
law of an institute.
Secondly, the factors of corruption and nepotism in a state like Pakistan puts it into
governance crisis. These two things annihilate the state’s governance structure as merit
gets to be replaced by favor.
Thirdly, the lack of long term and well-read state policies becomes another important
cause in bringing crisis of good governance. States are governed well through
integrated long term planning and policies which are implemented in several episodes.
In Pakistan, governments have plans to govern the country well but they collapse
because of their short-term nature and politically motivated objectives.
Fourthly, the priorities of a government also determine the level of state governance. If a
state brings the development of infrastructure as a priority over health, education and
welfare of the masses when these all are required then the system collapses. In
Pakistan, more is being spent on building infrastructure and little on provision of basic
facilities like health, education and employment.
Fifthly, lack of accountability further volatiles the crisis of good governance. Even if the
state officials are corrupt, the bad governance can be averted by holding them
accountable. But when the institutions of accountability become subject to the will of the
officials then the crisis becomes inevitable. In Pakistan the institution of accountability
i.e. NAB is often subject of political controversies. Even the incumbent Prime Minister of
Pakistan has discouraged NAB for its independent investigations.
Lastly, political instability in a state puts it into crisis of good governance. When a
system of governance is not let to evolve and grow normally and political instability is
created in the form of overthrowing a legitimate government, it becomes impossible for
a state to ensure good governance.
In order to bring Pakistan out of the governance-crisis, reforms are essential. Among
them comes first the institution building. This refers to de-personalization of state
institutions. All the state institutions shall be let to work independently without any undue
influence and blackmailing. Bringing judiciary and accountability institutions out of the
influence of executive can help the country out of the crisis. Secondly, ensuring the
smooth relations between the civil and military leadership can also help if not in
ensuring good governance then at least in averting many causes of bad governance.
The Parliament of Pakistan has enacted laws nearly on all the major issues that a state
and its masses may face. The problem lies in implementation of these laws. This is
because of the weak law enforcing agencies. Empowering police as primary measure
can help in improving the law and order situation of Pakistan which will ultimately help it
in good governance.
Lastly, if the reforms and institution building are to be successfully brought in Pakistan, it
is essential to ensure political stability and democratic evolution in here. Governance
becomes good in democratic system for most of the times. Though it is not a general
rule as many dictators have brought welfare to their people but that is an exception. In
Pakistan strengthening the democratic system its forefathers chose will help in bringing
it out of the crisis.
In the contemporary run, country might be facing the governance crisis but the evolving
custom of political stability is a ray of hope. Unlike in the past, political government is
being let to complete its constitutional tenure and then go for elections. That is a healthy
development which is bringing Pakistan on the track of good governance. This along
with strengthening the democratic practices will also help in minimizing the causes of
the crisis. In compact, Pakistan has for long been facing the crisis of good governance
but the contemporary political phase can ensure a positive change.

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Crisis of Good Governance in Pakistan: Need for Reform and Institution

2. Attributes of Good Governance

3. Crisis of Good Governance in Pakistan

4. Causes of Good-Governance Crisis

5. Reforms and Institution Building

6. Contemporary Governance in Pakistan

Good governance, in general, refers to the measures of a government which bring

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