Editorial
Pakistan is constitutionally a federal parliamentary state, where powers are divided between the federation and the provinces. Legislative, fiscal, and administrative federalism together define the true spirit of this constitutional framework. Yet, while the first two have seen partial progress, administrative federalism remains unimplemented. The civil service structure — still rooted in colonial centralisation — continues to violate the federal spirit by maintaining a unitary bureaucratic framework under federal control.
Under the present arrangement, provincial and district posts remain dominated by officers from federal or so-called “All-Pakistan” services. This system effectively converts Pakistan into a unitary administrative state, despite being constitutionally federal. Articles 97, 137, and 240(b) of the Constitution clearly divide executive and legislative authority between the federation and the provinces. Yet, administrative practice disregards this division, allowing federal bureaucracy to occupy provincial and local executive positions that should constitutionally belong to provincial services.
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The 18th Amendment was a landmark in restoring legislative and fiscal federalism, but administrative devolution has remained frozen. Without administrative federalism, the provinces cannot exercise true autonomy. The federal services should operate only on federal subjects, while All-Pakistan common services — jointly regulated — should manage matters under Federal Legislative List Part II, such as interprovincial coordination and national planning. All provincial subjects must be administered by provincial civil services, accountable to their respective assemblies and executives.
Implementing administrative federalism will ensure constitutional governance, strengthen provincial institutions, and create genuine accountability at the grassroots. Pakistan’s progress depends on empowering its provinces to manage their own affairs, rather than perpetuating a colonial legacy of centralised control. Federalism is not just a constitutional principle — it is a democratic necessity. For Pakistan to move forward, it must federalise its bureaucracy in the same way it has federalised its laws and finances.
#Governance #Federalism #ProvincialAutonomy #CivilServiceReform #RepublicPolicy
