The case for smaller administrative units in the age of AI

Political parties in Pakistan consistently obstruct the functioning of local governments, a pattern observed across all provinces and ideologies. Local bodies are typically established late, receive inadequate funding, have their authority diminished, and are dissolved prematurely. This deliberate weakening is not accidental but a strategic policy to prevent the emergence of rival power centers.

A functional local government possesses its own electoral base, budget, staff, and the ability to deliver visible services, potentially building a political constituency independent of provincial party structures. For parties whose power relies on controlling patronage and resources from provincial capitals, such an independent tier represents an existential threat to their dominance, not to the state itself.

Historical attempts to strengthen local governance, such as the Basic Democracies in the 1960s, the 2001 devolution under Musharraf, and post-18th Amendment councils, were primarily initiated by military governments or court orders, which political parties subsequently ignored. Democratic parties, left to their own devices, have shown no inclination to build robust local governments.

Meanwhile, citizens' needs for effective governance persist, with issues like sewage backups, teacher shortages, and the need for distant travel for basic services. The current institutional framework, characterized by large provinces and a largely symbolic local tier, is ill-equipped to address these demands, especially in the face of climate shocks. The article suggests that if parties refuse to empower local governments, the solution lies in reconfiguring provinces into smaller, more responsive administrative units designed for efficient service delivery.