Pakistan has no shortage of governance prescriptions. We debate new provinces, empowered local governments, administrative devolution, civil-service reform, institutional restructuring and constitutional engineering. Each has its place. But beneath these structural questions lies a more fundamental one:

Who will run these institutions—and on what basis will they be chosen?

Pakistan’s most consequential reform may not require another constitutional amendment, another ministry or an expensive programme. It may require something much simpler, and infinitely more difficult:The political will to let merit reign.

By merit, I mean more than academic qualification. It is the combination of competence, integrity, judgement, experience and the demonstrated capacity to deliver.

The principle is simple: put the best available person in the right place, irrespective of political affiliation, family connections, lobbying or patronage.

The cost is virtually zero. The potential returns are enormous.

The country has capable professionals across every field. The problem often begins before an institution starts functioning: who is appointed, who is promoted, who is transferred and who is protected. When political loyalty repeatedly outranks professional competence, the incentive structure of the state is inverted. The capable become disillusioned; the connected become confident; and institutions learn to reward conformity rather than performance.

Eventually, the system selects people who become good at navigating one’s agenda rather than the state’s. That is institutional decay in slow motion. Meritocracy does not mean removing politics from government. Elected governments must set priorities and exercise political judgement. But political direction and administrative competence are not the same thing. Prime Minister sets what the government wants to achieve; competent professionals must execute it. A political leader therefore does not need every official to be a political loyalist.

What is needed is a professional who is competent, honest, decisive and committed to the public interest.

The politician should own the agenda. The........

© Pakistan Observer