Sajjad Ahmad Khan
Good governance creates an administrative structure that makes rulers fully accountable for the use of public resources
Pakistan emerged on the world map as a result of the constant struggle of our political leaders and forefathers. Thousands of people lost their lives while migrating. People migrated to Pakistan in search of a prosperous and bright future. The purpose of establishing this country was to pave the way for a propitious, peaceful and moderate society. In fact, Pakistan was founded on the premise that veridical and effulgent democratic values would be a source for politicking in this state. And a country where the rule of law and transparency would be the guiding principles of society. But looking at today’s deteriorating situation, it seems that the dreams of our elders have been shattered. It seems that Pakistan is stumbling like an orphan in the comity of nations.
Today our country is facing innumerable problems. Let me cover it up in a single sentence that we have more government and less governance in Pakistan. I think good governance in Pakistan is remembered only in words and in practical life it is an alien. Unfortunately, we have a very bad habit of befuddling people with difficult jargons. These terminologies are later explained in seminars by retired bureaucrats and NGOs personnel. This business is done in the name of sensitization, spreading of knowledge and awareness. Good governance is one of those unlucky ideas and diction. Seminars on good governance are held so that people get acquainted with this appellation and its role. There are countless people who speak on this subject, but there are probably very few who practice it.
Pakistan is facing a severe crisis of good governance. The only way for Pakistan to move forward is to adhere strictly to the incandescent principles of good governance. Human development and good governance are inseparable. According to the United Nations, good governance consists of eight attributes: supremacy of the rule of law, vision of consensus-based decision-making, efficiency and effectiveness, transparency and objectivity in operations, accountability and responsibility to government, fairness and discipline. Good governance attaches great importance to participatory approach in decision making. In decision making, when the people give their opinion, they take ownership of these decisions with all their heart and soul.
Max Weber believes that bureaucracy is closely linked to governance. Because the civil service is the only wheel that is constantly in movement to run the country. But the civil service system in Pakistan is so powerful that the bureaucrats associated with it are often unaccountable. Good governance creates an administrative structure that makes rulers fully accountable for the use of public resources. If this is the definition of good governance, then there is virtually no good governance in any department of Pakistan. The main reason for this is that no institution is ready to be queried about the use of resources at its disposal. In Pakistan, institutions have been ruled by mafia for years.
This mafia is very powerful and no one can ask them about the use of resources. And so good governance is ruthlessly gang raped here. I will try to explain by giving a simple example. Once mistakenly I asked the SHO of my area about his grade and he said very bluntly, “ I am in grade 16 but enjoy the authority of 116 grade”. If this is the limit of the powers of an SHO then we can guesstimate ourselves the bounds of the authority of a bureaucrat SP and Deputy Commissioner. They are fearless enough to abdicate their responsibilities. I find it strange when bureaucrats talk about good governance in seminars after retirement. But when these people are in power, they misuse good governance to fill their pockets.
The first goal of good governance is to eradicate poverty. Because it lays the foundation for an active and dynamic system of government. Moreover, it fosters a society that adheres to standards of transparency, partnership, ownership and accountability to citizens. According to a report by a UN task force, governance refers to the proper use of authority in political and administrative matters in any country. Therefore, it is the constitutional and moral duty of the people to monitor the performance of the government from time to time.
Good governance and democracy go hand in hand. In the absence of good governance, democracy can turn into a mad elephant and may trample the poor. People reach the corridors of power by resorting to the narrative of good governance, then deviate from their promises and fail to deliver. The tragedy is that the gentlemen who have the power to put good governance into practice are the ones who are recalcitrant to do so. To avoid accountability, the Pakistani government keeps coming up with new excuses. When politicians are told that they are not free birds but accountable to the people, they turn squeamish. Because when the thermometer of good governance is placed under the armpits of the politicians, the thermometer always shows high fever of corruption.
When we ask the day government about its performance, the PTI ministers say that they should be held accountable for completing the five-year tenure. The question arises that if after five years, which is now coming to an end, another party comes to power, then who will be held accountable and how. We need to know that every project is monitored during its implementation period ; and it is noted whether the project is achieving its milestones or not. Giving priority to the citizen is called good governance. It is a thinking that brings stakeholders, government and citizens closer together. Good governance is the guarantor of prosperity and development of the country. To do that, we need to make citizen participation part of the rule
