Federalism in Pakistan & Centre Province Relations:

Challenges and Future

Federalism in Pakistan refers to the distribution of power and resources between
the central government and the provinces. The country has a federal structure,
with the provinces having a degree of autonomy in areas such as law and order,
education, and health.
However, the relationship between the central government and the provinces has
been complex and dynamic, with challenges and tensions arising in the distribution
of power and resources.
1. Political and Ethnic Tensions: One of the main challenges of federalism in
Pakistan is the political and ethnic tensions that have arisen between the
central government and the provinces. Different ethnic groups and political
parties have different views on the distribution of power and resources,
leading to tensions and conflicts.
2. Distribution of resources: The distribution of resources, such as revenue and
development funds, between the central government and the provinces has
been a source of tension. Provinces have often complained of being
shortchanged by the central government, leading to resentment and
mistrust.
3. Centre-province power struggle: The central government and the provinces
have often engaged in a power struggle, with each side trying to assert its
authority and control over certain areas. This has led to a lack of cooperation
and coordination between the central government and the provinces, which
has hindered the development of the country.
4. Lack of political will: There has been a lack of political will on the part of the
central government and the provinces to address the challenges of
federalism in Pakistan. Political leaders have often been more focused on
their own interests and the interests of their political parties, rather than the
interests of the country as a whole.
5. National security concerns: National security concerns have often been used
as a justification for the central government to exert control over the
provinces, which has further exacerbated tensions between the central
government and the provinces.
 6. Lack of trust: There is a general lack of trust between the central government
and the provinces, which has hindered cooperation and coordination on
issues related to federalism.
7. Lack of institutional capacity: The institutional capacity of the federal and
provincial governments is inadequate to manage the complexities of
federalism and to ensure the smooth functioning of the system.
To address these challenges, the following steps can be taken in the future:
• Revisiting and amending the constitutional provisions related to the
distribution of power and resources between the center and the provinces.
• Building trust and cooperation between the central government and the
provinces through regular consultations and meetings.
• Addressing the root causes of political and ethnic tensions, such as poverty
and inequality.
• Building institutional capacity through training and capacity-building
programs for government officials and civil society organizations.
• Encouraging a culture of dialogue and compromise among political leaders
to address the challenges of federalism in Pakistan.
• Increase transparency and accountability of the federal and provincial
government's financial and administrative activities.
• Encouraging public participation in the decision-making process to build a
more inclusive and democratic society.

Conclusion:
It's important to note that addressing the challenges of federalism in Pakistan
requires a comprehensive and long-term approach that involves the cooperation
and coordination of all stakeholders, including the government, private sector, and
civil society