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Technical Note

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BRIEF INTRODUCTION TO THE ADMINISTRATIVE STRUCTURE OF PAKISTAN

Mohsin Bashir


INDUSTRY : Government, Governance, Public Sector

AREA : Devolution & Governance

ORGANIZATION :

LENGTH : 17

LUMS No : 16-310-2017-2

PUBLICATION YEAR : 2017

DESCRIPTION

KEYWORDS:

Administrative Structure of Pakistan, Pakistani Constitution, Senate, National Assembly, Provincial Assemblies, National Economic Council, National Finance Commission, Regulatory Agencies, Statutory Organizations


DESCRIPTION:

This paper is an attempt to describe the administrative structure of Pakistan by dividing government body into legislative, executive and judicial branches as mentioned in the Pakistani Constitution. Senate, National Assembly, and provincial assemblies fall under the legislative branch and their major functions include legislation, oversight of government and financial accountability. President, Prime Minister, cabinet, divisions, attached departments, autonomous and semi-autonomous bodies come under the executive branch of the government. Governor, chief minister, provincial ministers and various departments serve as the executive arm at the provincial level. Apart from that Council of Common Interests, National Economic Council, National Finance Commission & Regulatory Agencies and Statutory Organizations also fall under the executive body. Supreme Court, high court and federal Shariat court are the judicial branches of the government. Special administrative units, Gilgit-Baltistan, Azad Jammu & Kashmir, FATA, provincially administered tribal areas, which do not come under provinces, have different administrative structures that will be described in the paper later. It should be noted that this note is of a basic and introductory nature and it deliberately avoids discussions on the political and legal aspects of the Pakistani government. It refers to the constitution in general terms because it¿s purpose is to simply establish the constitution as the foundation for certain institutions and offices, as opposed to providing a detailed insight into constitutional matters.


LEARNING OBJECTIVES:

This note has been written because of the absence of any contemporary text that can serve as a ready reference for students. Most available texts are either outdated or written in cumbersome legal language. It offers an overview of the Pakistani government and introduces students to the various branches of government, the different levels of government, and the way in which different government organizations are set up.


SUBJECTS COVERED:

Devolution & Governance, Governance, Politics, Public Policy, Administration