Provinces must perform better instead of blaming federation

LAHORE: Pakistan has been governed by the central government for such a long time that even after the devolution of powers to the provinces after the 18th amendment; the centre is still blamed for all the miseries faced by the common man.

The provinces also conveniently pass on the blame for their failure on the federal government. This is just like the media blaming Wapda for power woes because for around 58 years Wapda was the water and power regulator of the country. In 2007, the power sector was separated from Wapda and is under direct control of Secretary Water and Power.

Similarly, the general public blames the federal government for encroachment, law and order, poor infrastructure, unregulated prices of daily use items, unavailability of certified seeds, adulteration in agricultural inputs and food items, and everything that burdens them. After the 18th amendment, regulating these affairs became the responsibility of the provinces.

Police too operates under the jurisdiction of each province. Irrigation system is managed by the provincial governments and the support price fixed by them. With around 60 percent of the tax collected by the federal government being handed over to the provinces, the provinces can resolve these issues through better governance.

Encroachments hinder the normal flow of movement for both pedestrians and vehicular traffic, wasting thousands of man hours. Instead of blaming municipal bodies for not removing encroachments, the task should be given to the police. The head of each police station should be accountable if encroachment recurs after removal. The citizens should be encouraged to upload the photographs of encroached areas to the relevant authorities.

Prices are controlled in all provinces by apprehending small shopkeepers. These shopkeepers procure products from wholesalers. They cannot sell products below purchase price. The provinces should regulate wholesalers, manufacturers and importers and then target small shopkeepers. It should be compulsory to print the retail price, ingredients and expiry date on all packed items.

Currently these details are absent on most items. The packed milk and processed chicken packs do not mention the maximum retail price that might result in over charging by some. Similarly, no prices are written on toothpastes, vegetable oil packing. In some cases the expiry date is also omitted.

The price control on items like vegetables, fruits and other loosely packaged items might be difficult, but all packed items, including sweats can be easily managed if the provinces showed the will.

The price list should be prominently displayed at all shop s and stores. Citizens should be encouraged to take photographs of price lists and packed items and send them to designated authorities in case of violations.

The weakness of the regulatory authorities can be overcome with the help of citizens using new technologies like smartphones.

The case is the same in agriculture, where every provincial government agrees middlemen exploit farmers, but none takes any step to remove them. Sugar mills withhold huge payments of sugarcane farmers, but provincial authorities pay only lip service to the farmers’ woes.

Police stations and the interrogation rooms should be electronically monitored to ensure the elimination of police excesses. Punjab is registering complaints electronically in 228 police stations and police is bound to resolve the issue within three days or register an FIR. The city police officer and the relevant SP has been provided access to all electronic complaints and they ensure compliance in three days. KP is following this model and an official team from Punjab is facilitating them in this regard. Other provinces should follow suit.   When the federal government increases the rates of petroleum products, transporters press the provincial authority to let them raise fares. However, when the rates go down, the transporters continue charging high rates without any check.