Devolution of Powers, Strong Local Governments Vital for Effective Governance: Acting Governor Punjab

By Farzana Chaudhry | Lahore, Pakistan

LAHORE: Acting Governor Punjab and Speaker of the Punjab Assembly Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan on Tuesday underscored the importance of meaningful devolution of powers to the grassroots, a strong local government system and the empowerment of elected representatives in accordance with the Constitution, describing these as essential pillars of effective governance in Pakistan.

Speaking as the chief guest and keynote speaker at a roundtable conference titled “Governance: Lekin Nizam Kya?”, organised by the Centre for Policy and Nation Building at the University of Lahore, Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan said governance should not remain confined to academic discussions but should evolve into a sustained national dialogue aimed at improving public service delivery and the quality of life of citizens.

The conference was attended by Chairman Board of Governors of the University of Lahore Awais Raoof, legal experts, academics, lawyers, intellectuals, students and representatives from various segments of society.

Addressing the gathering, Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan said the relationship between the state and its citizens is founded on a social contract that obliges the government to make citizens active stakeholders in governance by ensuring the provision of essential civic services, including healthcare, sanitation, drainage and other basic public facilities.

Expressing concern over the state of local governance, he said many rural areas continue to face the absence of an effective local government structure and adequate municipal services, describing the issue as one of Pakistan’s most significant governance challenges.

He said the success of a democratic system should be measured by its ability to improve the daily lives of ordinary citizens, adding that public confidence in democratic institutions weakens when governance fails to deliver tangible improvements in people’s living standards.

Referring to the Constitution, Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan said it envisages the transfer of administrative authority to elected representatives and stressed the need to examine why this constitutional objective has yet to be fully realised.

He observed that Pakistan is facing political, economic and administrative challenges that require state institutions and political forces to work within their constitutional limits while pursuing collective decision-making in the larger national interest.

The Acting Governor also highlighted the importance of promoting a democratic culture that accommodates political dialogue and respects differing opinions, saying tolerance is essential for the stability and maturity of democratic institutions.

He further stated that safeguarding citizens’ rights remains the state’s foremost responsibility and emphasised that proposals regarding new provinces or administrative reforms should be debated through an inclusive national dialogue that reflects public opinion.

Concluding his address, Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan said Pakistan’s democratic future depends on strengthening institutions rather than individuals, upholding the rule of law, ensuring transparent accountability, establishing an effective local government system and empowering elected representatives in line with the Constitution.