Article Type

Article

Description

As most of the major political parties have decided to contest the forthcoming general elections, the democratic discourse should now shift to the identification of national priorities.

There may be differences of opinions on the nature of these priorities but one of the most important priorities for any incoming government that cuts across all sectors, regions and segments of the population, would be to address the issue of governance deficit. Lack of good governance is the bane of most of the problems faced by ordinary citizens.

It is now clearly established empirically not only in Pakistan but across the developing world that the benefits of economic policies, however sound or benign they may be, cannot be dispersed widely unless the institutions intermediating these policies are strong, efficient and effective. One of the reasons for widening income and regional inequalities is indeed the poor governance

structure of the institutions delivering the public goods to the citizens. Privilege, patronage and influence for a few have rationed access to these institutions depriving at least 40 million of the poor (who do not have the access) from the benefits of rapid growth achieved in the last five years.

Publication Source

Dawn

Publication Date

1-7-2008

Pages

1-4

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