GOVERNANCE is an art and at the same time it is a science. Art in the sense that resources, be they human or financial, are managed in the best possible way. How to utilise these resources in the best manner for good governance essentially are a good team, timely decision, best planning, appropriate strategies, correct policies, potential vision, accountability, transparency, and good communication and coordination among the departments.
There are three tiers of government in all democracies: federal government, state/provincial government and local government.
Federal governments are responsible for managing foreign affairs, financial affairs and defence.
State or provincial governments are responsible for providing education and health, maintaining law and order, and managing industries and natural resources.
Local governments are responsible for supplying water, managing sewerage, developing the community, and controlling prices.
Governance is a complex job as it tries to make a bridge between the masses and the administration. Political parties need proper knowledge, experience, and thorough capabilities of administration to deliver to the people. Surveys conducted after the 2008 elections show that the majority of Pakistanis want a democratic government: they believe that things will improve under a democratic government.
For good governance the concept of accountability can be understood in different ways. It is now customary to distinguish between ‘vertical accountability’ of public institutions to citizens and ‘horizontal accountability’ of one public institution to another.
Modern states combine multiple institutional arrangements, legal frameworks and organisational structures to ensure both vertical and horizontal accountability.
In Pakistan, as in other democratic countries, elections to the parliament and provincial assemblies and direct and indirect elections to district, municipal and union councils are the most visible mechanisms for ensuring vertical accountability.
But there are other important institutions, such as civil society organisations, research institutes, intellectuals and communications media, which exercise oversee governance.
There are a number of questions about government transparency, which can be understood as the extent to which citizens have access to information that can facilitate their understanding of decision-making (policies, budgets, projects, etc.).
Transparency is important because it generates pressure on public officials for greater accountability for their decisions and it serves as a check on corruption.
One of the most common results of low transparency in government decision-making is corruption. Results show a high level of corruption in most interactions with the police during the previous two years:
— 90 per cent paid bribes, —in legal procedures involving judicial authorities, 78 per cent paid bribes, —in land administration, 92 per cent paid bribes, — in getting access to health services from public hospitals, 67 per cent paid bribes, and — in getting admission and registration at public schools, 50 per cent paid bribes. (442) District governments are responsible for the management of primary and secondary healthcare facilities, including Basic Health Units, Rural Health Centres and Tehsil and District Headquarters Hospitals.
It includes issues such as the equipping and maintenance of facilities, assuring a constant supply of medicines, regular attendance of staff, and construction of new facilities.
Provincial health departments, however, also have important roles to play, specifically in the posting and transfer of staff and critical aspects of human resource management.
It is unfortunate that democratic governments are never given a chance by antidemocratic forces to complete their tenure.
It is time we strengthened democracy and allowed our people to progress as are doing some of our neighbours.
There are three tiers of government in all democracies: federal government, state/provincial government and local government.
Federal governments are responsible for managing foreign affairs, financial affairs and defence.
State or provincial governments are responsible for providing education and health, maintaining law and order, and managing industries and natural resources.
Local governments are responsible for supplying water, managing sewerage, developing the community, and controlling prices.
Governance is a complex job as it tries to make a bridge between the masses and the administration. Political parties need proper knowledge, experience, and thorough capabilities of administration to deliver to the people. Surveys conducted after the 2008 elections show that the majority of Pakistanis want a democratic government: they believe that things will improve under a democratic government.
For good governance the concept of accountability can be understood in different ways. It is now customary to distinguish between ‘vertical accountability’ of public institutions to citizens and ‘horizontal accountability’ of one public institution to another.
Modern states combine multiple institutional arrangements, legal frameworks and organisational structures to ensure both vertical and horizontal accountability.
In Pakistan, as in other democratic countries, elections to the parliament and provincial assemblies and direct and indirect elections to district, municipal and union councils are the most visible mechanisms for ensuring vertical accountability.
But there are other important institutions, such as civil society organisations, research institutes, intellectuals and communications media, which exercise oversee governance.
There are a number of questions about government transparency, which can be understood as the extent to which citizens have access to information that can facilitate their understanding of decision-making (policies, budgets, projects, etc.).
Transparency is important because it generates pressure on public officials for greater accountability for their decisions and it serves as a check on corruption.
One of the most common results of low transparency in government decision-making is corruption. Results show a high level of corruption in most interactions with the police during the previous two years:
— 90 per cent paid bribes, —in legal procedures involving judicial authorities, 78 per cent paid bribes, —in land administration, 92 per cent paid bribes, — in getting access to health services from public hospitals, 67 per cent paid bribes, and — in getting admission and registration at public schools, 50 per cent paid bribes. (442) District governments are responsible for the management of primary and secondary healthcare facilities, including Basic Health Units, Rural Health Centres and Tehsil and District Headquarters Hospitals.
It includes issues such as the equipping and maintenance of facilities, assuring a constant supply of medicines, regular attendance of staff, and construction of new facilities.
Provincial health departments, however, also have important roles to play, specifically in the posting and transfer of staff and critical aspects of human resource management.
It is unfortunate that democratic governments are never given a chance by antidemocratic forces to complete their tenure.
It is time we strengthened democracy and allowed our people to progress as are doing some of our neighbours.
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