Multi-level governance in Pakistan

Introduction

The term 'multi-level governance' was developed by Liesbet Hooghe and Gary Marks to describe how decision-making in the European Union is spread across supranational, national and regional levels. It applies to any system where several levels of government share responsibilities and must cooperate.

Pakistan's three tiers

• Federal: Parliament (Majlis-e-Shoora), the President, the Prime Minister and Cabinet, the Supreme Court and Federal Constitutional Court, and the federal secretariat.
• Provincial: provincial assemblies, governors, chief ministers and cabinets, high courts and provincial secretariats.
• Local: district, tehsil, municipal and union or village councils, created under provincial laws as required by Article 140A.

Division of powers

• The Federal Legislative List (Fourth Schedule) lists subjects on which only Parliament can legislate, such as defence, foreign affairs, currency and nationality.
• The 18th Amendment (2010) abolished the Concurrent List, so all subjects not in the Federal List belong to the provinces.
• Local governments receive powers and funds from provincial laws.

Coordination mechanisms

• Council of Common Interests (Article 153).
• National Economic Council (Article 156).
• National Finance Commission (Article 160) and Provincial Finance Commissions.
• Ministry of Inter-Provincial Coordination.

Challenges

• Overlapping responsibilities after devolution.
• Weak and interrupted local governments.
• Federal-provincial disputes over resources, water and finances.
• Capacity gaps in provinces and districts.

Conclusion

Multi-level governance can bring government closer to citizens and accommodate diversity, but it requires clear division of powers, cooperation and capable institutions at every level.