Editorial
The recent statement by Federal Minister Rana Tanveer Hussain calling for a review of the 18th Constitutional Amendment has reignited a debate that goes to the heart of Pakistan’s federal identity. The 18th Amendment, enacted in 2010, remains one of the most transformative reforms in Pakistan’s constitutional history. It restored the balance of power between the federation and the provinces, bringing long-denied harmony in legislative, administrative, and fiscal federalism.
Through this amendment, Pakistan finally fulfilled the vision of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah and the Objectives Resolution, which envisioned an autonomous federation where sovereignty truly belongs to the people and their federating units. It decentralized authority on subjects such as health, education, and local government, while allocating 57.5 percent of national resources to the provinces. This was not a concession; it was the constitutional realignment Pakistan needed after decades of centralization.
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Any attempt to amend or dilute the 18th Amendment without the explicit mandate of the people will not only undermine provincial autonomy but also erode the very principles of democracy and federalism. Pakistan cannot afford another imbalance between Centre and provinces. The 18th Amendment is not a challenge to national unity—it is its guarantee. Upholding it is essential for political stability, democratic governance, and the constitutional spirit that binds the federation together.
