Interests of the Governments regarding Decentralization in Pakistan and its Drawbacks

Abstract

The system of local government has supreme value regarding better administration of a country. Pakistan has a long history of local governments. However, different scenarios in the history of local government are very interesting in Pakistan. It is amazing that the local government system nourished in military regimes, whether it were General Ayub’s Basic Democracies, Local Bodies of General Zia-ul-Haq, or the Devolution Plan of General Pervez Musharraf. The local government in each province and district varies in size, taxable capacity, and population. However, the similar three tier system is existent in each of the four provinces. When the civil governments ignore the local government, military introduces this system on its own terms and conditions. Through the analysis of primary and secondary data, the ambiguities have been resolved, suggesting local government must be incorporated in the constitution like that of India.