Federalism in Pakistan Essay Example

crises between provinces and the central government, as well as within provinces themselves. East Pakistan, with its larger population, faced discrimination and received only half the loans and grants that West Pakistan did. This inequality extended to defense budgets and the armed forces and civil services as well.

All these factors increased the grievances of the East Pakistanis. The provinces of West Pakistan also had anti-Punjab feelings, which contributed to the rise in demands for regional autonomy. Punjab had a dominant presence in the government and army, particularly after the implementation of the One Unit Act. This act consolidated power in West Pakistan under one government, furthering Punjab's influence. Bureaucracy played a crucial role in Pakistani politics, and the fact that it was traditionally dominated by Punjab caused resentment among other provinces who sought more involvement in governance.

The increase in regionalism was partly due to resentment towards the Centre, and this had an impact on federalism. Another factor was the lack of a political party with nationwide support. Although the Muslim League was one such party, it split after 1954. When a party is organized nationally, it can unify people from different backgrounds. However, in the absence of such a party, provincially organized parties emerge and regional divisions become more prominent.

The growth of regionalism occurred due to various reasons, resulting in the failure of the federal system. These factors led to an increase in regional pressure on the federal system and hindered federal-regional inter-dependence. The lack of a balanced power distribution between the Centre and Provincial governments contributed to this outcome. Consequently, forces directed towards the Centre gained momentum, leading to detrimental consequences such as the

division of Pakistan in 1971.

To contain the growing regionalism, two factors need to be controlled: over centralization and the dominance of one province over the other. Over centralization can be prevented by implementing safeguards to limit the interference of the Centre in provincial matters. An example of such a safeguard is ensuring that the constitution cannot be changed without the agreement of the provincial assemblies. Additionally, it is important to provide suitable powers to the provincial assemblies as a means of preventing over centralization. Measures like the One Unit Act should be avoided to address these concerns.

Restrictions on the Centre are crucial to prevent misuse of powers in provincial matters. One approach is to mandate Senate approval for emergency power usage. Another safeguard is ensuring that the governor of a province is elected by the provincial assembly or approved by the Senate, preventing interference from the federal government in selecting their representative. Additionally, positions of significance within provinces should be filled by members of the Provincial civil service rather than the CSS, which reports to the federal government.

Provincialization aims to establish an independent revenue source for a province. Controlling the dominance of a single province (in our case, Punjab) requires a shift in mindset where people become cognizant of the rights possessed by smaller provinces. Additionally, reorganizing territories based on language can help diminish the influence of one province and promote a more balanced distribution among provinces.

However, it is important to reorganize in a democratic way to prevent resentment and ensure the financial stability of smaller provinces. By controlling these factors, we can prevent the Centre from becoming too powerful and one province from dominating.

This will maintain the true sense of the federal system, decrease regional pressures, and maintain equilibrium in the Federal-Regional equation.