CSS 2015 Solved Current Affairs Past Papers | Good Governance and Measures for its Improvement
The following question of CSS Current Affairs 2015 is solved by Sir Ammar Hashmi, the best Current Affairs Coach, on the guided pattern of Sir Syed Kazim Ali, which he taught to his students, scoring the highest marks in compulsory subjects for years. This solved past paper question is uploaded to help aspirants understand how to crack a topic or question, how to write relevantly, what coherence is, and how to include and connect ideas, opinions, and suggestions to score the maximum.
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Question Breakdown
In this question, the examiner has asked you to explain good governance with special focus on the solutions/ measures required by the government to improve its performance. Thus, to solve this question, you are first required to introduction, a supporting paragraph on the current scenario of governance in Pakistan, ang then move to the solutions. Give realistic and rational suggestions with evidence to obtain high scores.
Outline
1-Introduction
2-Defining the term Good Governance
3-Contemporary governance situation in Pakistan
4-Measures to improve governance in Pakistan
- ✓Ensuring the rule of law in true letter and spirit
- ✓Ensuring accountability and combating corruption
- ✓Introducing institutional reforms
- ✓Introducing significant economic reforms
- ✓Empowering local governments with decentralization
- ✓Bureaucratic restructuring with collaborative governance
- ✓Public participation and public engagements
- ✓Public service delivery
- ✓Preserving human rights and social justice
5-Conclusion
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Answer to the question
Introduction
The existence of the rule of law, accountability, transparency, and policies prioritizing the public’s interests are characteristics of good governance. However, Pakistan has struggled with persistent political instability despite its longstanding aspirations to achieve good governance since its independence. Upholding the rule of law, guaranteeing accountability and transparency, ensuring economic reforms, and restructuring the civil services are essential ways to accomplish good governance. Public trust, citizen participation, and social justice reinforce accountability and the rule of law. Furthermore, advancing public welfare through the protection of human rights, social justice, and beneficial policies can strengthen public confidence in the government, thereby improving coordination and ensuring effective governance. Moreover, promoting good governance is a responsibility shared by all levels of government. However, for Pakistan, resolving its governance effectively is necessary and a core requirement for substantial progress.
Defining the term good governance
Good governance is defined as upholding the rule of transparency in decision-making and creating and implementing fair policies for the management of resources. It guarantees the formulation of effective policies to provide services and meet the requirements of the general population. UN defined the eight guiding principles of good governance as defined by the UN participation, rule of law, transparency, responsiveness, consensus orientation, equity and inclusivity, effectiveness and efficiency, and accountability. When a state meets these requirements, it is considered to have achieved good governance.
Contemporary governance situation in Pakistan
The governance has been undermined by persistent political chaos. Pakistan is currently dealing with a number of serious problems, such as security issues, economic challenges, and political polarization. Subsequently, the political division provokes the military’s influence in the country’s political affairs. Additionally, free and fair elections have always been the subject of accusations of rigging and military-backed political parties eventually take control. Furthermore, the declination of rule law and accountability has given certain political elites control of Pakistan’s political affairs. As a result, these powerful elites control the institutions that make policies appealing and beneficial to them, ignoring the general benefit of the populace. Moreover, the situation worsens amidst the country’s economic challenges. The loss of trust brought on by political unrest and bad economic policies has also decreased foreign direct investment. However, successive governments have fallen short of their commitments to provide justice, human rights, food security, and other basic services. Additionally, Pakistan is facing numerous security issues, and the government finds it difficult to maintain both external and internal security. Therefore, Pakistan must address these governance concerns immediately, or the nation risks degenerating into even greater turmoil and possibly disintegrating. And the impoverished now fight to survive in the face of inflation.
Measures by the current government to improve its performance
The current government must undertake various significant measures to strengthen its governance performance. Some of these measures are as follows.
- Ensuring the rule of law in true letter and spirit
First, the rule of law is key to good governance. In Pakistan, however, it has often been undermined by the political elites, leading to public distrust and crimes. For instance, in the Noor Mukadam murder case, a politically influential individual, Zahir Jaffer, received immunity from a court trial. However, the government should take adequate measures to enforce the rule of law and ensure that justice is not exclusive to the elite. Conclusively, every citizen should be held equally accountable for their crimes, and justice should be ensured for all, regardless of social class.
- Ensuring accountability and combating corruption
Second, ensuring accountability and combating corruption are other essential components of effective governance. Pakistan, politically and economically unstable, has a high rate of corruption and lacks transparency and accountability in its institutions, making it even more politically vulnerable. However, corrupt activities in Pakistan can be addressed by ensuring accountability. Additionally, implementing strict rules against corrupt public officials and refuting granting illicit impunity to political elites can be effective steps towards good governance. Moreover, governance and anti-corruption watchdog institutions should be established and strengthened to ensure accountability and set equal and unbiased laws that guarantee equal treatment to all, regardless of social class. Doing so will create a sense of being observed by officials and political elites. As a result, in the presence of such a watchdog, these officials will be reluctant to engage in any illegal activities, which will incline them to give better performance, avoid abuse of power, and guarantee equitable treatment under the law if they know they will be held accountable for their actions. Ultimately, this strategy will increase public trust by fostering systemic transparency. Thus, the corrupt activities in Pakistan can be addressed by ensuring accountability in the country.
- Introducing institutional reforms
Third, Pakistan must fortify its institutions to implement policies effectively. In the past, policies have either been delayed or never been implemented. Nevertheless, collaboration between the federal, provincial, and municipal governments should be a priority to guarantee accountability and transparency across all governmental sectors. Moreover, the hiring procedure should also be enhanced to boost efficiency. However, immediate reforms are needed by the government to improve institutional confidence.
- Introducing significant economic reforms
Fourth, good governance can be fostered through meaningful economic reforms. Political instability has taken a severe toll on Pakistan’s economy. Improvements in the tax system are necessary, and local governments should be empowered to make economic decisions. Agricultural reforms and fiscal responsibility at the local level could further support better governance.
- Empowering local government with decentralization
Fifth, empowering local government is a significant step towards improving governance in Pakistan because local governments have the authority to address regional issues and ensure transparency in revenue systems so that local governments can manage funds effectively and oversee resources. Furthermore, local representatives must adhere to rules and regulations set by local authorities. Moreover, the Council of Common Interest (CCI) will define the framework for local government affairs, and the National Finance Commission (NFC) will support decentralization by devolving political, financial, and administrative authority to empower local governments.
- Bureaucratic restructuring with collaborative governance
Bureaucracy is the foundation of good governance. Unfortunately, problems like poverty, racism, religious extremism, and the weakening of the rule of law have not been addressed by Pakistan’s bureaucracy effectively. Moreover, Pakistan’s government has been weakened by distorted bureaucratic policies, as these policies are merely formed to please Pakistan’s elites. Subsequently, the bureaucratic system should be reformed for the betterment of making and implementing policies. Firstly, it can be done by choosing bureaucrats according to their expertise, indicating that only competent people make trustworthy policies. Secondly, in order to maintain the rule of law and encourage transparency, the bureaucracy needs to be depoliticized, objective, and supportive of justice and equity in the country.
- Public participation and public engagement
Engaging and involving the public is crucial for ensuring good governance. However, involving citizen participants in ensuring good governance promotes accountability and transparency, which eventually helps the administration. Citizens should also have internet access to enhance their digital literacy and enable their involvement. Furthermore, it is essential to educate the public about their rights in public administration so that people can recognise their role in good governance. Moreover, citizen committees, community-based organizations, and participatory budgeting projects should be supported to promote local government involvement. Perhaps this strategy promotes good governance by fostering public trust, ensuring transparency, and successfully addressing societal concerns.
- Public service delivery
Public service delivery is one of the crucial components of good governance, and it addresses basic needs like clean water, food security, healthcare, housing, and other civic facilities. Nonetheless, better public service delivery has been promised by both military and civilian regimes in the past, but these promises have never been fulfilled. For instance, PTI pledged social security and economic justice, PMLN focused on social development and measurable advancements in energy, infrastructure, and economic growth, and PPP pledged social justice, the empowerment of women and minorities, and improved social security, yet manyof these promises remain unfulfilled. Consequently, the policies must be updated and implemented to ensure efficient public service delivery.
- Preserve human rights and social justice
Achieving social justice and human rights is essential for good governance. Nevertheless, gender-related issues, minority rights concerns, and sectarian tensions have long plagued Pakistan. Additionally, justice delays are highlighted by a number of cases in Pakistan, such as the Asghar Khan case, the missing persons case, the Shahzeb Khan murder, the Noor Muqaddam murder case and so on and forth. However, social justice ensures the implementation of policies and boosts public confidence in the government, both of which are essential for effective governance.
Conclusion
In conclusion, states’ socio-political and economic stability is based on effective governance. The rule of law, accountability, socioeconomic justice, human rights advocacy, economic reforms, transparency, and the eradication of corruption are some of the substantive ways to achieve it. Moreover, countries can improve their governance by implementing the UN’s eight fundamental criteria for good governance. Nonetheless, the absence of political and economic stability has made it difficult for Pakistan to develop an effective government. Subsequently, Pakistan has faced a governance dilemma characterized by political instability, economic challenges, security issues, and a weakening of the rule of law. However, immediate actions are required to enhance governance, such as upholding the rule of law, ensuring transparency, restructuring the civil service, and promoting public participation.
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