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Express Tribune
08-04-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
Envisioning a digital nation
The writer is a practising lawyer. He can be reached at Listen to article Digital Pakistan Policy 2018, though a well-intentioned initiative by the federal government, lacked a clear roadmap. It failed to articulate concrete policy objectives, outline legislative and infrastructural strategies and identify key socioeconomic sectors for digitalisation. More critically, it neglected to foster a competitive digital economy — an essential driver of sustainable progress. In an attempt to fill these gaps, the Digital Nation Pakistan Act 2025 was enacted with the ambitious goal of transforming Pakistan into a 'digital nation' through digital society, economy and governance. The law was hailed for providing a structured framework to accelerate economic development, enhance public services and improve citizen well-being. However, while the Act's preamble makes lofty promises, the provisions envision the establishment of three overlapping bodies: the National Digital Commission, responsible for approving and overseeing the National Digital Masterplan; the Pakistan Digital Authority, tasked with developing and implementing the Masterplan; and an Oversight Committee, mandated to independently review the Authority's performance. These bodies are heavily bureaucratic and government-controlled, raising concerns about their effectiveness and autonomy. Despite the presence of such legal frameworks, Pakistan has barely achieved 5% e-governance. True e-governance eliminates bureaucratic red tape, minimises citizen visits to government offices and improves efficiency through digital records. Yet, the reality remains starkly different. The level of digital governance can be measured by the number of affidavits, attestations and excessive documentation still required for basic government services. The failure to digitise judicial processes alone is a glaring issue. With over 2.6 million pending cases, Pakistan's courts require centuries to clear their backlog at the current pace. Similarly, land record digitisation remains a distant dream, allowing for rampant fraud and multiple ownership claims on single properties. In contrast, Estonia's e-governance model allows citizens to access government services online, reducing bureaucratic inefficiencies. India's Aadhaar system has streamlined identification and access to public services. The UAE has adopted digital governance models that minimise red tape and corruption. Pakistan's failure extends beyond governance; it is a nation deprived of accurate, real-time data. From child abuse statistics to the number of government vehicles, coal mines and industrial accidents, Pakistan relies on global organisations and foreign-funded NGOs for its own information. The absence of digital records has enabled corruption on an enormous scale. A 2024 audit of KMC exposed nearly 950 ghost employees and 200 more drawing double salaries using the same CNIC. Without robust digital tracking, such financial haemorrhaging continues unchecked. Becoming a digital nation demands consistency, effective implementation of laws and basic digital infrastructure. In a country where even internet connectivity is unreliable, the government envisions sweeping digital reforms. Yet, it lacks comprehensive data protection laws to safeguard citizens' personal information. Without such safeguards, there are no limits to how data is collected, stored or potentially misused — an alarming prospect in a country with weak cybersecurity measures. Pakistan's digital potential is immense, but the government's obsession with control stifles progress. A true digital nation empowers its citizens, safeguards their rights and fosters transparency and accountability. Instead, Pakistan's approach remains top-down, prioritising government authority over citizen engagement. Before pushing ambitious digital initiatives, Pakistan must get the basics right — reliable internet access, strong cybersecurity measures and data protection laws that uphold privacy rights. Any digital transition must be transparent and include public consultation. Citizens have the right to know how their data is used and to grant or withhold consent. Even a hybrid democracy must uphold the pretence of democratic values. If Pakistan truly aims to become a digital nation, it must first build trust — not firewalls.
Express Tribune
08-03-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Missing local government
The writer is a practising lawyer and columnist. He can be reached at Listen to article Article 140A of the Constitution of Pakistan categorically requires each province to establish a local government system and devolve political, administrative and financial authority to elected representatives. Additionally, Article 32 obligates the state to encourage the development of local government institutions, ensuring special representation for marginalised groups. These constitutional provisions were included to foster democratic governance at the grassroots level, enhance public participation and safeguard the inclusion of historically underrepresented segments of society. Despite these constitutional guarantees, the absence of an effective local government system remains a pressing issue across Pakistan, with Punjab being a prime example. The province has remained devoid of a functional local government for a prolonged period. Provincial administrations have repeatedly postponed local government elections, often citing the need for legislative amendments as a justification to retain centralised control. This deliberate delay has exacerbated the disconnect between policymakers and the electorate, thereby weakening democratic participation and undermining public confidence in the existing political framework. The NFC Award and the 18th Amendment were instrumental in reshaping the distribution of financial and administrative powers in Pakistan. While the NFC Award ensures equitable allocation of financial resources to provinces, the 18th Amendment significantly expanded provincial autonomy by transferring numerous federal functions to the provinces. However, despite these structural reforms, local governments continue to face severe constraints in terms of financial autonomy, institutional capacity and political independence. While provincial governments have benefited from the decentralisation of powers from the federal level, they have been unwilling to extend the same to local bodies, thereby undermining the true spirit of devolution. The existing Local Government Acts at the provincial level play a pivotal role in determining the effectiveness of local governance structures. However, these laws often fail to grant meaningful autonomy to local representatives, reducing them to mere extensions of provincial administrations. Local government representatives have the potential to play a much broader role than merely managing municipal services. Here, a fundamental question arises: Why do provincial governments remain hesitant to transfer power to local governments despite clear constitutional directives? The primary reason lies in the unwillingness of provincial authorities to relinquish control over financial resources and administrative mechanisms. Provinces are blatantly ignoring Article 140A and Article 32, reflecting an entrenched resistance to meaningful devolution, protecting the interests of ruling elites over public welfare. The consequences of this power-centric political structure are evident in Pakistan's deteriorating human development indicators, widening socio-economic disparities and ineffective governance mechanisms. The country's declining ranking on the UN Human Development Index further underscores the urgent need for systemic reforms to enhance governance, promote development and address structural inequalities. For Pakistan to advance, it is imperative to shift governance paradigms by empowering local governments as the primary drivers of human development. A well-structured local government system fosters inclusive growth, equitable resource distribution and efficient execution of development projects. Decentralising decision-making authority not only promotes innovation and transparency but also ensures that governance structures remain responsive to local needs. Pakistan must embark on a comprehensive local government reform agenda that prioritises autonomy, financial sustainability and institutional capacity. Strengthening local governance will revitalise democratic processes, enhance public service delivery and cultivate a more participatory political culture. By implementing these reforms, Pakistan can unlock the full potential of its constitutional democracy, empower communities and establish an equitable and responsive governance model that truly serves its citizens.
