Pakistan has one of the most unique systems of government in the world, which doesn’t conform to any specific model. The federal government, which makes up the bulk of the country’s governance system, shares some power with the provincial governments, while all power over foreign affairs and defense rests solely with the federal government. This allows Pakistan to function as both a unitary and federal state at once, allowing it to find balance between an overarching national identity and regional identities. These are just some of the main features of Pakistani federalism.
The three tiers of government in Pakistan
Pakistan has a three-tier system of government, with the national government sitting at the top, followed by the provincial governments, and then the local governments. This system was put in place in order to decentralize power and give more authority to the people. Each tier of government has its own responsibilities and powers, which are outlined in the Constitution. The national government is responsible for defense, foreign affairs, and national economic planning, while the provincial governments are responsible for education, health, and agriculture. The local governments are responsible for city planning, waste management, and law enforcement.
The division of power between federation and provinces
Under the Constitution of Pakistan, the division of power between the federation and the provinces is outlined in Part II: Federal Legislative List and Part III: Provincial Legislative List. The federation has exclusive power over matters on the federal legislative list, while the provinces have exclusive power over matters on the provincial legislative list. Both lists are found in Schedule 4 of the Constitution. The Provincial Assembly may legislate on any matter not included in either list. In addition, the Parliament may legislate on any matter with respect to which it has been expressly empowered by the Constitution.
Finance
Pakistan is a federal parliamentary republic in which the President is the head of state and the Prime Minister is the head of government. The Constitution of Pakistan vests executive authority in the Prime Minister, who presides over the Council of Ministers (the Cabinet). The President is a ceremonial figurehead who represents the unity of the nation-state; the Prime Minister is responsible for running the government.
Federal-provincial relations
Pakistan is a federal state with four provinces – Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK), and Balochistan – and two territories – the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) and the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT). The country is further divided into districts, which are subdivisions of the provinces. It also has more than 4,000 civil-military administered Union Councils for representation on district level in various fields like education, health, social welfare etc. These councils have no administrative or decision-making powers but can be helpful in conflict resolution. There are four provincial assemblies that govern the respective province: Punjab Assembly for Punjab Province; Sindh Assembly for Sindh Province; KPK Assembly for KPK Province; Balochistan Assembly for Balochistan Province. Each assembly elects a Chief Minister to head its provincial government, who serves as leader of the provincial cabinet and chief executive officer of the province’s administration. In this way each province is governed by its own elected representatives while all states share common institutions such as supreme court and national parliament
Provincial autonomy
Pakistan is a federal state made up of four provinces: Punjab, Sindh, Balochistan, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Each province has its own government with power over certain matters, such as education and healthcare. However, the central government retains control over important issues like defense and foreign affairs. This system of provincial autonomy ensures that all Pakistanis have a say in how their country is run.
Election Commission of Pakistan
Pakistan has a federal government which means that there are certain powers and responsibilities vested in the central government, while others are reserved for the provinces. The country is divided into four provinces - Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan. Each province has its own assembly and provincial government. There is also a bicameral parliament, with the National Assembly being the lower house and the Senate being the upper house. The head of state is the President, who is elected by an electoral college.
Is Pakistan following Swiss, Canadian or American federal model?
Pakistan is a federal parliamentary republic with provinces as the first-order administrative divisions. The country follows the Swiss federal model, which features a strong central government with certain powers delegated to cantons and half-cantons. The Canadian federal model is also similar, with the main difference being that Pakistan has more provinces than Canada. Lastly, the American federal model features a strong central government with limited powers delegated to states.
Are there any flaws in Pakistani federalism?
Pakistan is a federal parliamentary republic consisting of four provinces and one federal capital territory. The provinces are Sindh, Punjab, Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The provincial governments are responsible for matters relating to their own province, such as education and healthcare. The federal government is responsible for defence, foreign affairs and national infrastructure.
Pakistan has a bicameral legislature, with the National Assembly being the lower house and the Senate being the upper house. The National Assembly consists of 342 members, while the Senate has 104 members. The National Assembly is elected for a five-year term, while the Senate has a six-year term.
Provinces in practice
Pakistan is a federal state composed of four provinces and
one federal territory. The provinces are Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and
Balochistan. The federal territory is the Islamabad Capital Territory. In
theory, the provinces have a high degree of autonomy, but in practice they are
highly centralized. The President is the head of state, and the Prime Minister
is the head of government. There is a bicameral legislature, with the National
Assembly being the lower house and the Senate being the upper house. The
judiciary is independent, but it is subject to political interference. Pakistan
has a highly centralized system of government in which power is concentrated in
the hands of the central government.