Youth Joins Nadeem Ul Haque’s/PIDE’s Call for Reforms

A SIA press release— a potion for reform was circulated over the summer based on a Reform agenda that my team prepared at PIDE. Brief details are outlined below to generate a national conversation on reform.

When I was at the Pakistan Institute of Development Economics (PIDE) we collected over 10,000 signatures on its petition titled ‘PIDE Reform Manifesto: Transforming Economy & Society’, in just under six months’ time. Students and faculty members of various universities along with professionals, researchers, business personalities etc. have signed PIDE’s call for reforms. The petition stems from my team’s work at PIDE in January 2024 Reform Manifesto titled “ISlaah”, which calls for deep reforms to correct Pakistan's economic course.

Despite its young population, Pakistan faces limited opportunities and relies heavily on IMF bailouts repeatedly. The manifesto urges a complete overhaul of the governance system to meet 21st-century needs, enabling efficient economic growth and retaining the country's talent.

The PIDE reform manifesto focuses on 10 broader themes. These are

·      Fiscal Management,

·      Social Infrastructure,

·       Building a Cohesive Community & Society,

·      Much Needed Political Stability,

·      Public Administration for the 21st Century,

·      Trade Openness: Competing Globally, Cities-Engines of Growth,

·      Changing the Population Paradigm,

·      Energizing the Future, and Developing Markets.  

A glimpse into the details reveals that the petition underscores the need for political stability by

·      requiring political parties to have at least 50,000 registered members, with 30% women and minority representation, regular intra-party elections, public financial disclosures,

·      a four-year parliamentary term, and

·      the abolition of interim governments.

·      Term limits to allow fresh blood into parliament and limit political influence

·      Reform of the election system to include NOTA and ranked choice or second round voting

For public administration, we advocate for

·      A clearer separation of powers between the parliament and executive,

·      Reducing federal ministries,

·      Integrating experts into the cabinet, as necessary.

·      modernizing civil bureaucracy with the best human resource practices and digital governance.

·      It also emphasizes local government reform as a cornerstone for modernization.

Moreover, we view cities as engines of growth, urging for inclusive, pedestrian-friendly urban centers governed by empowered city governments.

In fiscal management, the agenda calls for

·      An independent Planning Commission developing reform through results based plans and with no PSDP, which is now very political and poorly administered

·      Enhanced coordination between federal and provincial tax bodies,

·       Performance-based budgeting, and reforms in public sector enterprises.

·      It further suggests transitioning to a defined contribution pension system, universalizing income tax, and reducing reliance on indirect taxation.

·      An independent debt office to n manage the government debt office and develop a private debt market

To foster market competitiveness, we stress

·      The importance of securing property rights,

·      Ensuring transparency in trade rules, and

·      Prices to be determined by the market and not DCs — a practice that was discontinued in  Soviet Union in 1990.

·      It advocates for tariff rationalization,

·      Linking export subsidies to performance, and

·      Promoting renewable energy, alongside energy sector reform through the unbundling of DISCOs and strengthening of regulatory bodies.

A pivotal component of this strategy is the implementation of an immediate “Regulatory Freeze and axe” to eliminate burdensome regulations hindering business growth and innovation. To achieve sustainable economic growth, we must prioritize clear rules, digitization, and market liberalization, putting an end to the bureaucratic penchant for permissions and paperwork, thereby overcoming the 'Permissionistan' syndrome. 

In social infrastructure, we highlight online learning, technology investments, merit-based teacher recruitment, and a shift toward quality education over infrastructure.

We also recommend placing police under local government control and enhancing community development through local projects, clubs, and social events.

While the research document itself is concise and direct in its recommendations, but in actuality the PIDE’s reform manifesto is a culmination of over four years of work done at the institute through its research, conferences, webinars, seminars and consultation throughout the country. Moreover, lessons from the global experience have also been incorporated in the reform proposals by PIDE with valuable input over these years by international scholars including Nobel Laureates through their lectures at various PIDE events, conferences and webinars.

Our Reform Manifesto provides a blue print for the future direction of governance and policies in the country that must begin with immediate reform actions. The purpose of this petition for Reform Manifesto is to initiate a broad-based conversation and debate on the reform proposals presented by PIDE, to converge at an inclusive reform framework - which now seems inevitable at a pivotal moment when Pakistan stands at a crossroads; otherwise, the prospect for meaningful change may swiftly diminish.

With so many signatures of youth that have been collected, we hope that the government and media will take these proposals seriously and at least examine these proposals. In our view the ongoing negotiations between the government and PTI should be based on something akin to this! Sadly, reform does not seem to on the agenda of any government.