Pillar 3: Democratic Governance, Institutional Reform & Modernization of the Public Sector

Democratic Governance and Institutional Reform

Components of Democratic Governance:

1. Simplicity of Procedures:
 Streamlined processes for public engagement and service delivery.
 Reducing bureaucratic hurdles and paperwork for citizens.
 Implementation of user-friendly systems for accessing public services.
2. Responsibility of Public Officials:
 Establishment of clear lines of accountability for public servants.
 Introduction of mechanisms to hold officials accountable for their actions.
 Promotion of ethical conduct and adherence to professional standards.
3. Transparency of Government:
 Ensuring open access to government information and decisions.
 Implementation of laws and regulations that promote transparency.
 Utilization of technology to enhance transparency in government operations.
4. Individual Freedom:
 Protection of fundamental rights and liberties of individuals.
 Safeguarding freedoms of expression, assembly, and association.
 Establishment of mechanisms to protect citizens from arbitrary government
interference.
5. Collective Action:
 Encouraging active participation of citizens in decision-making processes.
 Promotion of civic engagement and community involvement.
 Creation of platforms for public dialogue and deliberation.
6. Independence of Legal System:
 Ensuring the judiciary operates independently of political influence.
 Strengthening judicial institutions to uphold the rule of law.
 Protection of judicial independence through constitutional safeguards.
7. Healthy Competition:
 Fostering an environment conducive to fair competition in the economy.
 Implementing anti-monopoly regulations to prevent market manipulation.
 Promoting entrepreneurship and innovation through supportive policies.
8. Elimination of Corruption:
 Implementation of anti-corruption measures to root out systemic corruption.
 Strengthening of anti-corruption agencies and enforcement mechanisms.
 Promotion of ethical standards and integrity in public service.

Institutional Reform:

 Purpose:
 Achieving rule of law, accountability, and public trust.
 Types of Measures:
 Restructuring of state institutions to enhance efficiency and effectiveness.
 Implementation of screening processes to ensure integrity of public officials.
 Creation of supervisory bodies to oversee government activities.
 Improvement of legal frameworks to strengthen governance mechanisms.
 Disarmament and reintegration programs to address security challenges.
 Investment in education and training to build capacity within institutions.
 Promotion of ethical behavior and values to foster a culture of accountability.

Importance of Governance in National Objectives:

 Central Role of Governance:

 Underpins the achievement of key national goals and objectives.
 Influences the effectiveness of policies and programs across sectors.
 Pakistan Vision 2025:
 Emphasis on quality democratic governance for sustainable development.
 Calls for a responsive, inclusive, transparent, and accountable governance
system.

New Governance Paradigm Post-18th Amendment:

 Autonomy and Planning:

 Need for a fresh approach to planning and implementation post-devolution.
 Participatory and Collaborative Planning:
 Involvement of diverse stakeholders in the planning process.
 Collaboration between federal and provincial entities, private sector,
academia, civil society, and diaspora.
 Strengthening the Federation:
 Enhancing coordination mechanisms between federal and provincial
governments.
 Alignment of national and provincial priorities for effective implementation.

Roles and Responsibilities in the New Paradigm:

 Ministry of Planning, Development & Reforms:

 Facilitator and integrator for economic policy and reforms.
 Facilitates dialogue and coordination between federal and provincial
governments.
 Forums for Coordination:
 National Economic Council, Common of Council Interests, Ministry for Inter-
provincial Coordination, and Inter-province Ministers Committees.

Provincial Autonomy and Responsibility:

 Increased Provincial Autonomy:

 Coupled with greater responsibility for governance and service delivery.
 New Fiscal Relationship Framework:
 Ensures equitable distribution of resources and implementation of national
plans.
 Cascade Effect:
 Adherence to constitutional and democratic norms as the foundation for
governance at all levels.

Reorientation of Institutions:

 Goals:
 Enhance efficiency and effectiveness of institutions.
 Build trust and credibility among the public.
 State-Citizen Relationship:
 Establishment of a new compact based on inclusivity and rule of law.
 Adoption of a comprehensive Citizen’s Charter to ensure accountability and
responsiveness.
 Role of Parliamentary and Standing Committees:

 Importance:
 Essential for effective decision-making and oversight.
 Strengthening legislative authority and accountability mechanisms.
 Future Vision and Goals:
 Stronger parliamentary institutions crucial for implementing development
goals and ensuring democratic governance.

Civil Service Reforms

 Performance Evaluation:
 Shift towards performance-based evaluation rather than subjective
assessment.
 Redefinition of positions and designations with emphasis on professional
qualifications.
 Introduction of career tracks with specialization for government officers to
enhance professionalism.
 Emphasis on specific deliverables formulated in terms of outcomes and
impact.
 Focus on mitigating moral hazard and perverse incentive structures.

 Education and Training Reform:

 Reforming education and training of civil service officers through the
National University of Public Policy and Administration (NUPPA).
 Revision of training curriculum and methodology to align with outcomes-
focused government.
 Ensuring public officials are adequately prepared for a government focused
on outcomes and service delivery.

 Streamlining Approval Processes:

 Restructuring of approval processes and procedures to reduce bureaucracy.
 Cutting red tape and enhancing quality of decision-making at all levels of
government.
 Aim to bring about qualitative change in ethos and mindset, turning
government officials into true public servants.
 Judicial System Reforms
 Objective:
 Urgent need for reform to address critical aspects of access, speed, cost, and
fairness in dispensation of justice.
 Reforms to remain within the confines of due process as enunciated in the
constitution.
 Civil Code and Statutes Review:
 Revisiting and reviewing civil code and statutes to ensure they promote
competition, provide a level playing field, and deter collusive or rent-seeking
behavior.

Police Reforms
 Objective:
 Accelerated reforms in provinces to establish smart and community-oriented
police forces.
 Police force plays a crucial role in ensuring the rule of law, fundamental for
democracy and development.
 Challenges:
 Increasing politicization and corruption, overstretched duty hours, and low
policing intensity leading to a decline in police credibility.
 Vision 2025 Goals:
 Re-establishment of the rule of law and improvement of public perception
through effective delivery of public safety services.
 Capacity Enhancement:
 Special attention to enhancing the capacity of police, prosecution, and public
defenders' system.
 Security Policy:
 Development of a new security policy to tackle terrorism effectively.
 Thana Culture Elimination:
 Introduction of Citizen-Police liaison system/local police system to improve
community engagement and trust.
 Criminal Databases:
 Establishment of national and provincial databases of criminals in
coordination with NADRA to enhance law enforcement capabilities.

Tax Reforms
 Objective:
 Promoting voluntary tax compliance through enhanced taxpayer facilitation.
 Implementation of administrative reforms to effectively tackle delinquent
taxpayers.
 Initiatives:
 Completion of the reform agenda of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR)
under Vision 2025.
 Enhancing revenue collection through a broad-based tax system.
 Utilization of IT data to improve tax administration.
 Gradual reduction of tax exemptions and simplification of rules.
 Focus on accountability, transparency, and integrity in tax services.
 Publication of annual tax directory to enhance transparency.
 Broadening the tax net and eliminating corruption within the FBR.

Anti-Corruption Measures
 Challenges:
 Systematic corruption affecting governance and development activities.
 Initiatives:
 Preparation and implementation of the National Anti-Corruption Strategy.
 Establishment of an autonomous National Accountability Commission.
 Strengthening governance institutions to enhance capacity and integrity.
 Public sector management agenda to make markets competitive and
improve public administration.
 Development of proper institutional and legal frameworks.
 Strengthening audit functions to improve resource allocation and detect
embezzlement.
 Procurement reforms to reduce transaction costs and prevent fraud.
 Civil service reforms to improve recruitment procedures and reduce
patronage.
 Promotion of freedom of information through constitutional provisions.
 Review/update of existing laws against cybercrime and intellectual property
rights violation.
 Training of investigation officers to address serious white-collar crimes.
 Enforcement and streamlining of regulations to improve public management
and reduce corruption opportunities.
 Enhancing public awareness on good governance and corruption issues.

High Performance & FAST Government - Governance

for the Future
 Core Strategy:
 Introduction of third-generation reforms in the public sector as a core
component of Pakistan Vision 2025.
 Based on reoriented and repositioned human resources, deployment of new
technologies, and restructuring of institutions.
 Objectives:
 Responsive government to meet the evolving needs of citizens in a digital
world.
 Quantum leap in managing citizen expectations.
 Key Features:
 Adoption of the High Performance and FAST (Flat, Agile, Streamlined, and
Tech-enabled) model of governance.
 Flatter government structure with fewer layers between government and the
public.
 Use of social media, internet, and mobile telecommunications for citizen
feedback.
 Agile government capable of adapting quickly to changing environments and
issues.
 Decision-makers equipped with real-time data presented on dashboards.
 Streamlined bureaucracy focusing on a small, highly trained workforce with
diverse skill sets.
 Tech-savvy government with adequate ICT infrastructure and human capital.
 E-governance for transparency, efficiency, and accountability through
engaged citizen feedback.

E-Governance
 Objectives:
 Achieving good governance by improving efficiency, transparency, and user-
friendliness of government services.
 Re-engineering procedures and rules as the core of effective E-governance.
 Addressing issues of sustainability, interactivity, and standardization of E-
governance activities.
 Functionalities:
 Development of government-to-government, government-to-citizens, and
government-to-business functionalities.
 Increasing citizen access to IT tools and promoting greater connectivity.
 Capacity Development:
 Capacity development within the public sector to ensure familiarity with
electronic procedures.

CASE STUDIES:

1. New Zealand's State Sector Act (1988) and Public Management

Reforms:

 Positive Impact:
 Improved Efficiency and Effectiveness:
 According to a report by the New Zealand Treasury, the reforms led to a
significant increase in productivity in the public sector. Between 1987 and
 1995, productivity growth averaged 1.6% per year, compared to an average
of 0.6% in the previous decade.
 The introduction of competitive tendering and contracting out of services
resulted in cost savings and improved efficiency. For example, the Ministry of
Works estimated savings of NZ$37 million in the first three years of
contracting out road maintenance services.
 Enhanced Accountability:
 The State Services Commission reported that the reforms improved
transparency and accountability in the public sector. Agencies were required
to publish annual reports detailing their performance against objectives,
fostering greater accountability to taxpayers.
 The introduction of chief executives with fixed-term contracts and
performance agreements ensured clear accountability for agency
performance.
 Innovation and Responsiveness:
 The introduction of a more flexible and responsive public sector enabled
innovation in service delivery. For instance, the Ministry of Health introduced
innovative approaches to healthcare delivery, resulting in improved access
and outcomes for patients.

2. Singapore's Civil Service Reform:

 Positive Impact:
 Clean and Efficient Government:
 According to Transparency International's Corruption Perceptions Index,
Singapore consistently ranks among the least corrupt countries globally. In
2020, Singapore was ranked 3rd out of 180 countries surveyed, reflecting its
clean and efficient governance.
 The World Bank's Worldwide Governance Indicators also indicate significant
improvements in control of corruption and government effectiveness in
Singapore over the past few decades.
 Skilled and Motivated Workforce:
 Singapore's civil service is known for its high standards of professionalism
and competence. The civil service attracts top talent through competitive
salaries and benefits, rigorous recruitment processes, and opportunities for
career advancement.
 The Civil Service College of Singapore provides comprehensive training and
development programs to enhance the skills and capabilities of civil
servants, ensuring a highly skilled and motivated workforce.
 Economic Development:
 Singapore's clean and efficient government has played a crucial role in
attracting foreign investment and facilitating economic growth. According to
the World Bank, Singapore's GDP per capita increased from US$516 in 1965
to US$65,233 in 2019, making it one of the wealthiest countries in the world.

3. Rwanda's Public Sector Reforms Post-Genocide:

 Positive Impact:
 Improved Service Delivery:
 According to the World Bank, Rwanda has made significant progress in
improving access to basic services such as healthcare and education. For
example, between 2000 and 2019, the percentage of children completing
primary education increased from 70% to 91%.
 The Rwandan government's Vision 2020 Umurenge Program (VUP) has
provided support to vulnerable populations and contributed to poverty
reduction. As of 2020, VUP had reached over 720,000 households, providing
cash transfers, public works employment, and social protection services.
 Economic Development:
 Rwanda's GDP growth has been robust in recent years, averaging 7.2%
annually between 2000 and 2019, according to the World Bank. The country
has diversified its economy, with growth driven by sectors such as services,
industry, and agriculture.
 Foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows to Rwanda have increased
significantly, reaching US$2.46 billion in 2019, compared to US$29 million in
2000. The World Bank attributes Rwanda's attractiveness to investors to its
improved governance, business environment, and infrastructure.
 Social Cohesion:
 The Rwandan government's efforts to promote reconciliation and social
cohesion have been recognized internationally. According to the United
Nations, Rwanda has made remarkable progress in healing the wounds of
the past and rebuilding trust among communities.