THE importance of institutional reform is powerfully articulated in the work of economists Daron Acemoglu and James A. Robinson, authors of Why Nations Fail.

They demonstrate that nations prosper when they build inclusive economic and political institutions—systems that broaden participation, empower local communities and prevent excessive centralization. Conversely, nations decline when they remain trapped in extractive, overly centralized structures. While Acemoglu and Robinson critique the exploitative aspects of colonial governance, other scholars such as Nigel Beggar have highlighted the administrative strengths of certain British institutional arrangements, particularly their emphasis on system-building and amalgamation. Regardless of academic perspective, a single principle remains clear: institutional design shapes national destiny and long-term prosperity requires institutions that empower society rather than restrict it.

The urgency of administrative reform in Pakistan becomes evident when considering the daily hardships faced by ordinary citizens. A resident of Jiwani or Gwadar travelling to Quetta for a single court hearing or someone from Sadiqabad journeying to Lahore just to resolve a routine administrative matter, endures not a minor inconvenience but a punishing and costly burden, often repeated over months or years. For millions, this has become a normalized form of structural injustice, rooted in a dated administrative framework that no longer reflects Pakistan’s population, geography or economic realities. The economic and social costs of such inefficiencies are immense and are borne both individually and collectively.

Since 1947, Pakistan has remained anchored in a colonial administrative model that........

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