Reevaluate the 18th

The 18th Amendment was a dynamic constitutional amendment that accorded considerable autonomy to the provinces. However, over a decade later, other than Punjab and, to some extent, Sind, the two remaining provinces remain in the grip of uncertainty or some form of fiscal and administrative under-performance or under-utilisation. At present, the government is focusing upon socioeconomic revival and development of the state, which I endorse.

Once this country is solidly back on its feet (in economic and financial terms), then it may be a good idea to revisit the 18th Amendment or any other constitutional provisions which may need re-evaluation. Pieces of legislation which propel some provinces to move forward and cause others to standstill or even move backwards have no efficacy or merit for our body politic in the long-term. We must realise that the whole country needs to move forward in unison.

Abbas R Siddiqi

Lahore