Governance crisis

Introduction

• The term “governance” is vividly defined as managing and governing

public affair
• The concept of “governance” is not new for government. The word
earlier used in 14th century that was derived from Greek word
“kubernaein”.
• After the fall of Soviet Union the importance of governance gain
momentum
• In 1989, the concept of “governance” was for the first time highlighted
in a World Bank Document on Sub-Saharan Africa.
• Concept further developed in World Bank’s 1992
publication “Governance and Development

• Defination by world bank

Governance is epitomized by predictable, open, and enlightened
policymaking (that is, transparent processes); a bureaucracy imbued
with a professional ethos; an executive arm of government accountable
for its actions; and a strong civil society participating in public affairs;
and all behaving under the rule of law”.

Principles of good governance

1.Participation
Participation is a significant element of good governance.
• A participatory government invites all stalk-holders to
take their input in the policy formation about any issue,
and then its implementation in an effective way.
• Most important stalk-holder is considered the masses of
that country.
• All voices, including those of the less privileged and most
vulnerable are heard and taken into account in decision-
making

• 2. Rule of law
Impartial enforcement of law
 • Rules and regulations provide the framework for action and
decision making process.
• By having a strong rule of law, governments give business and
society the stability of knowing that all rights are respected

• strong rule of law includes:

• Clearly written and easily accessible laws that create
certainty and enforceability of legal rights
• An independent and impartial judiciary that promotes
fairness and ensures transparent, timely and predictable
resolution of disputes
• Effective and efficient public institutions that empower
business and individuals to make a positive contribution
to the economy and society

3. Transparency.

• Transparency means sharing information and acting in an open manner

• citizens understand and have access to the means and manner in which
decisions are made, especially if they are directly affected by such
decisions.
• This information must be provided in an understandable and accessible
format, typically translated through the media.

4. Responsiveness
• Objectives, rules, structures, and procedures are adapted to the
legitimate expectations and needs of citizens.
• Public services are delivered, and requests and complaints are
responded to within a reasonable timeframe.

5. Consensus oriented

• When the decision-making process cannot accommodate everyone’s

wishes, then at a minimum, the decision must be a decision that can be
accepted by everyone and does not harm anyone.
• agenda that seeks to mediate between the many different needs,
perspectives, and expectations of a diverse citizenry.
 • Decisions needs to be made in a manner that reflects a deep
understanding of the historical, cultural, and social context of the
community.

6. Equity and inclusiveness

• This means that all members of society, especially the most vulnerable,
are taken into consideration in policymaking, and no one feels alienated,
disenfranchised or left behind.
• Good governance ensures justice for the community
• . Everyone has the same opportunity to maintain and improve their
welfare.

7. Effectiveness and efficiency

• Community resources must also be utilised optimally by the government
• Efficiency can be achieved under the conditions of maximizing the
results of an action in relation to the resources used
• civil service being responsible for providing efficiently and equitably the
public goods and services needed for citizens for sustainable economic
development.

8. Accountability

• Each and every person should be accountable

• Ensuring accountability increases the trust of public in institutions

Importance of good governance for a country

1) Economic Development

• good governance ensures the economic development of that state by

removing all the obstacles .
• Several econometric studies of Daniel Kaufmann and Aart Kraay (1
showed that the variables of good governance such as control of
 corruption, stability of property rights or democracy are closely
correlated with variables such as GDP growth rate per capita,
investment or human capital development.
• Switzerland is now one of the most advanced economies due to its
sound governance policies

2) Social Development

• Good governance is essential for social development.

• result of development ensures that every class of people in society
enjoys the basis of fairness.
• Rwanda’s well-resourced bureaucracy rests on a streamlined, educated
civil service with low levels of corruption, and it consequently has seen
improved performance on issues like poverty reduction, economic
planning, and public health responses

3) Political Development
• Good governance ensures the constructive cooperation between the
institutions and the political parties and the formulation of programs for
the welfare of the people
• Good governance establishes the trust of people on government
• Switzerland has probably one of the world’s most stable and
transparent political system, the voters are very closely involved with
politics and understand its sensitivity to their day to day lives. The voters
have a large say in the political decision making of the country, citizens
can often be seen raising important issues at the grassroot level by
means of referendums, campaigns or other small-scale initiatives.

How governance crisis can hit a country?

• Case study of Zimbabwe

• President Robert Mugabe regime

• When Zimbabwe first declared independence in 1965, its
economy was diverse, it had a well-built infrastructure, and
it had an enviable financial sector
 • In the 1970s, the country had mining, agriculture,
manufacturing, local businesses selling supplementary
goods, and plenty of food
• Mugabe occupied office in 1980

• Bad governance policies of Mugabe

1)Marxist Land Reform

2)Operation Restore Order

3)Corruption

• According to the 2015 Index of Economic Freedom compiled

by the Heritage Foundation, GDP per capita is only $788 in
Zimbabwe, making it one of the poorest countries in the
world.

Global governance
• Refers to institutions that, facilitate cooperation, resolve
disputes, and alleviate collective action problems
• Global governance is necessary because humanity increasingly
faces both problems and opportunities that are global in scale
• The goal of global governance, roughly defined, is to provide
global public goods, particularly peace and security, justice and
mediation systems for conflict, functioning markets and unified
standards for trade and industry.
• One of the leading Institution in charge of Global Governance –
United Nations
•
founded in 1945, in the wake of the Second World War, as a way
to prevent future conflicts
•
does not directly bring together the people of the world, but
sovereign nation states, and currently counts 193 members
•
It is responsible for various activities ( peace, security, prosperity
and stability )
•
Some other institutions ( IMF , World Bank)

Formation of Global Governance system

 • Over the past 60 years, large parts of the world have operated within an
American-led and Western-centered system of global governance.
• Global governance began in the mid-19th century.It became particularly
prominent in the aftermath of World War I, and more so after the end of
World War II.Since World War II
• It is a distinctive type of order, organized around open markets,
multilateral institutions, cooperative security, alliance partnership and
American Hegemonic Leadership
• Only in the past two decades, in fact, has it been possible to speak of a
singular system of global governance.
• United States was more than just a powerful con-try that dominated the
global system. It created a political order--a hierarchical order with
liberal characteristics.

Issues which are creating crisis of Global Governance

1. Interests of Vito Powers

• Us Vito against all the resolutions against Israel

• Iraq war

• Russia vetoed a UNSC resolution that would have demanded

that Moscow immediately stop its attack on Ukraine and
withdraw all troops

2. Rise of new states

• BRICS

• Addition of new stakeholders

• According to The Economist, developing countries now produce

half of global economic output.
 •
The rapid economic growth currently taking place in China and
India is only the most impressive example of the shift in
balance of power, and most available indicators suggest that
this is not a short-term phenomenon.

• In recent years, the weight of the BRICS has increased in the

international context
• the BRICS have initiated a whole series of initiatives which in
some ways have made us ponder their desire to give rise to a
new world order ( like NEW DEVELOPMENT BANK ( NDB) )
3. Climate change and Pandemics
• Initiatives to counter climate
• Highly infectious diseases have the potential to kill millions of
people.
• Climate change threatens to trigger food shortages and waves of
environmental migration, and to further destabilize weak and poor
states fround the globe.
•
4. Exploitation of Cyber space
• Increasing cyber crime
• Cross border cyber attacks
• Interference in other country’s affairs
• Hybrid warfare
• Russian interference in 2016 US elections
5. Nuclear proliferation
• States out of NPT
• North Korea nuclear program
• Proliferation of weapons
• Security interdependence of different states
• States now possess nuclear weapons that could
destroy others
6. Instability and hostility among nations
• Threat to peace is no longer primarily from great powers
engaged in security competition.
• The threat to international order was no longer great power
war, as it had been for centuries. The threat emerged
instead from violence and instability among weak, failed,
and hostile states residing on the periphery of the system.
• Also the conflicts between different nations are
creating chaotic situation
 7. Rise of Far right political parties in Europe

• Conservative parties which are against the global governance

are rising
• Sweden democrats party which have neo Nazi roots
• Italy’s government is taken over by , an insurgent populist
movement whose lineage traces back to Mussolini

8. Decline of Unites States

•
The another major challenge weakening global governance in
recent years has, ironically, been the foreign policy of the
nation primarily responsible for creating the current
international system: the United States.
•
Although the United States’ history of unilateralist tendencies
certainly predates September 11, 2001, its actions in the seven
years since have had a negative impact on its image overseas
and have severely damaged its moral authority to act as the
“leader of the free world.”
•
US intransigence over climate change
•
US rejection of the Kyoto Protocol

Situation of governance in Pakistan

Initial issues of governance in Pakistan which have created a crisis of

governance

A) Illiteracy

• Due to the migration of literate Hindus and Sikhs to India,

the literacy rate in Pakistan sharply declined.
• There was about 95 percent illiteracy in Pakistan in 1947
• Lack of talent
• Feudalism hinder they way of education

B) Poverty and Scarcity of Essential Goods

 • Pakistan was established in the northwest and northeast of
the South Asian subcontinent. These areas were neglected by
the British being closer to the borders.
• Thus, at the time of its birth, Pakistan was virtually an
“economic desert”
• When Pakistan became independent, India refused to give
Pakistan a fair share of national wealth. India still owes 5.6
billion rupees
• Also, the areas coming under the Pakistan section were
mostly agricultural areas with very few industries
C) Dwindling democracy

• First election held in 1970

• Decades of Marshal laws

• Era of 1990’s
D) Leadership gap after Quaid e Azam
• Governor-General, died just one year after the establishment
of Pakistan on September 11, 1948 and his right hand
lieutenant Liaquat Ali Khan, who was the first Prime Minister,
was assassinated on October 16, 1951
• Jinnah had ruefully remarked that “he had false coins in his
pocket”

E) Constitutional crisis

• 1956 constitution ( 1958 abrogated by Iskandar Mirza)

• 1962 constitution ( 1969 abrogates by Yahya Khan)

• 1973 constitution.
F) Exploitation by feudal and rich class

• Pakistan was a feudal country

• Feudal use politicians and bureaucrats

 • Impede the public development

•
G) Militarisation due to wars

• Defence spending shifted into higher gear following the Indo-

Pak War of 1965 when it more than doubled in one year from
Rs. 1,262 million in 1964-65 to Rs. 2,855 million in 1965-66
• From the time of the creation of Pakistan, 40-50 per cent of
the revenue has been spent on defence
•
Current situation in Pakistan
• According to Failed State Index (renamed Fragile States
Index) ranking, Pakistan stands at number 13.
• Pakistan’s position on global governance index 144 /180
(india 68 and banglades 84 )
• In World Bank review of governance (1960-2021),
Pakistan performance was below the satisfaction on the
indicators of governance

• the goals of freedom of expression, freedom of association,

and the presence of media free from any outside influence
are yet to be achieved.
• Average rank of Pakistan on all indicators was between( -
0.6 )—( 0.85 ) (-2.5 worst, 2.5 excellent)

1) Pakistan on the indicators of governance

• If a country is not performing well on all indicators then it is

said to be in crisis of governance
a) Participation

• Devolution of powers to Local Governments introduced in

2001 was a step in the right direction but has not been fully
implemented either in letter or in spirit
• Lack of citizens’ participation or lack of citizens’ interest to
participate is one of the major issues that are hindering
good governance in Pakistan
• The masses are not much aware of their participatory
rights,
• World bani indicator. Participation rating is. -0.84
b) Rule of Law

• rule of law interpreted and applied in Pakistan

misses the basic elements such as transparency;
accountability before the law; equal, just and clear
application of law
• In 1996, Pakistan’s score was -0.64 and after almost
25 years it stands at 0.63 in 2021.

c) transparency
• Excessive liberties exercised by some of the media
representatives in assassinating the character of
political leaders or public servants
• In 18th Constitutional Amendment a new Article 19-A
was incorporated in Constitution of Islamic Republic
of Pakistan regarding the transsparency and right to
information
• Still situation is not good as majority of people are
not aware about the complete details of projects

• No transparency leads to corruption

• Pakistan ranks 140 out of 180 on the transparency

international index

d) Responsiveness of the Institutions

• In Pakistan, the whole domain of responsiveness is

retarded and outdated,
• . The differential treatment meted out to the
influential segments on one hand and the rest of the
population on the other violates the principle of
fairness and good governance.
• UNIFEF: Months after unprecedented floods ravaged
Pakistan, vast swathes of cropland and villages
remain under water, while nearly 10 million girls and
boys remain in need of immediate, lifesaving support.
 e) Equity and inclusiveness

• The inclusive governance and inclusive decision

making is totally absent in Pakistan.
• Article 2-A and chapter of Fundamental Rights of the
Constitution of Islamic Republic of Pakistan regarding
equity and equality
• Cleavages and bays between the different classes are
very wide and becoming even wider with the passage
of time,
f) Efficiency and effectiveness

• There are poor process indicators of institutional

efficacy, efficiency and effectiveness in Pakistan such
as, absence of relations between institutional
activities and resources and ; budgetary execution;
implementation of priority programs
• According to world bank, Efficiency and effectiveness
in Pakistan stands at -0.4
g) Accountability

• Islam being the state religion of Pakistan, which

emphasise much on self- accountability and
accountability of state officials to citizens, have
always been a dream in the country that the public
officials be accountable to masses.
• Ehtesab Ordinance 1997, Ehtesab Act1997, and then
NAB Ordinance 1999 have been enacted for
accountability and to curb corruption and corrupt
practices in Pakistan, but it the process of
accountability has received severe criticism that it is
used to victimise, persecute and outrage political
opponents by the Government.
• Corruption rank

How crisis of governance is effecting Pakistan

1. Poor economic growth

• The economic growth of a country is significantly impacted when

exposed to indicators of bad governance. Bad governance heavily
impacts the per capita growthof a country.
• A lack in regulatory quality, governments ineffectiveness and a
lack of control on corruption have been linked to poor economic
growth
• Ishrat hussain : The econometric analysis of linkages between
governance and pro-poor growth suggests a significant
relationship as good governance leads to reduction in poverty and
inequality.

2. Terrorism and violence

• When People do not get their fair share this will create
frustration in them

• Sense of exclusiveness and inequality made them against the

state

• Example of Baluchistan

• UNODC: Ineffective institutions undermine the provision of

public services such as health care, education and law
enforcement. When public officials do not act as bureaucrats
delivering services as they are expected to do, people can try to
obtain these services in other ways

3. Food insecurity

• Pakistan’s rank in global hunger index indicates that food

sovereignty has not yet been achieved due mainly to an inefficient
official distribution system and the fact that the poor do not
qualify for unemployment benefit.
• Global hunger index- Pakistan stand at 99/121
 • According to Pakistan Agricultural Research Council , the bad
government management of agriculture, , the inefficiencies of
fertilizer and irrigation systems, and a lack of innovative
knowledge generation is causing food insecurity
• Asian human rights commision - The Pakistani people are
increasingly vulnerable to food insecurity because of the
government's bad governance

4. Ineffective healthcare system

• Health insecurity is increasing because the Government’s overall

health expenditures are not directed at securing poor people’s
healt.
• Marginalised groups continue to face strong barriers to access a
corrupt public health care system and are forced to attend private
clinics.
• Asian Development Bank- Three factors, communicable
infectious diseases, reproductive health problems, and nutritional
deficiencies are purported to account for almost 60 percent of the
burden of disease in Pakistan, All of these are preventable or
easily treatable problems, but because of the low quality of health
services , the incidence of such diseases and the mortality rate
remains high.
• Global health index – Pakistan ranks 130/195

5. Excessive Destruction of infrastructure due to natural disasters

• Delayed action during the time of natural disasters is responsible

for most of the destruction carried out by disasters
• Institute of Development Studies
In recent flooding There has been delayed responses from the
government. The devastation has continued for many days now
and the floods began in mid-June but the formation of a new
National Flood Response and Coordination Centre was announced
as late as 29 August

6. Corruption

• Thee absence of good governance leads

to corruption which prevails quickly unless tackled with authority
 7. Energy crisis

• The multiple problems include, poor supply-demand management

and kunda-system or power thefts.. The peak power shortfall
reaches almost 9000 megawatts across the country which is over
half of the total national demand.
• National Bureau of Asian Research ,Pakistan's energy problems
are deep and complex, and are rooted more in shortages of
governance and political will than of pure supply

8. Destruction of state owned enterprises

• Example of PIA

Causes of bad governance in Pakistan

1-Deteriorated Political Fabric

• Political instability is termed as the biggest problem of mis governance

in social, political, economic arenas of Pakistan.

• Political parties in opposition try their best to topple the government

by hook or by crook in order to establish their own government.

• political instability staves off the country to achieve its potential

because it directly hit on the governance structure of the country.
• Pakistan Development Review - Bad Governance occurs as a
consequence of frequent changes in government or 'political
instability'. Instability in political regimes, such as a democracy,
has been proven to coincide with poor governance.

2- Acute Malfunctioning of State Institutions

• Pakistan’s institutions are not strong since inception . This is the biggest
reason behind why the country’s bureaucracy cannot manage to
conduct affairs of the state effectively and efficiently.
• Poor induction system
• The powerful and influential also dominate politics, the economy,
and all departments of life. Institutions like the National
Accountability Bureau most often act at the behest of the
government rather than on merit
 • Ishrat Husain writes that, states can achieve good governance
when political and economic institutions remain in their domain
and work without any influence

3- Ineffective Justice System :

• Need of a better justice system is very much needed in Pakistan

since it has affected the public and the governance to an extend
that it has created an environment leading to lack of
accountability or fear of engaging it
• In Pakistan, the judiciary has been made political institutions,
whose decisions and judgments have always supported status
quo
• The constitution of Islamic Republic of Pakistan preserves
fundamental rights of the citizens; however its pragmatic
implantation has never been witnessed.
• Justice for the ordinary citizens has become harder to get in the
prevailing crisis of governance.
• World justice project – Pakistan ranks 129/140

4- Geo strategic Position

• The insecurities created by Pakistan’s historically strained

relations with India and Afghanistan have been of fundamental
importance in the evolution of the role of the state.
• These insecurities have also con- tributed to the militarisation of
Pakistani politics
• Refugee influx

• War on terror

5-Urbanisation

• The rapid urbanization rate is another issue of governanc

e. The current trend of
urbanization will enlarge the cities or municipalities areas
more than two time over the last decade. Th
• UNDP - Pakistan has the highest rate of urbanisation in South
Asia.

Way forward
1. Pakistan must deepen devolution.
 • Fully activate the local governance system
• Follow the three tier model of Switzerland
2. Quality of institutional performance must improve
• Merit based recruitment
• Follow new modern procedures for recruitment( Uk
recruitment system

• Right person for right job

• New skills on effective implementation

3. Loans to start mega projects should be made public and

accepted after a debate has been conducted and consensus
reached
• Use of surveys, questionnaire and polls
• Ensure maximum input
4. Restructuring of media
• Control media false news and propaganda policies
• Special incentives from government for telecasting beneficial
programs
5. Move towards E governance
• South Korea- UNI – Pass system
• This system automates all customs procedures,for
example,export/ import declaration, travelers' customs
proceduresand tariff payment for electronic processing,
without requiring service users to pay visits,
6. Awareness programs
• Ensuring maximum participation
• Aware about rights

7. Judicial reforms must be carried out to make the process

speedy and transparent

8. Special focus on improving the governance in marginalised

areas
Past papers questions :

• Crisis of good governance in Pakistan: Need for reforms and institution

building. (2016)
• Will “Rule of law” always remain an impracticable myth in our country
(2018)
• Define the term ‘Good Governance’. What measures the present
government should take to improve its performance (2015 )
• Pakistan is suffering from crises of governance at Institutional level.
Suggest remedies to mitigate this situation.( 2007 )
• Good governance and the role of the public servant. (2000

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