In public policy literature, ‘policy silos’ describe the phenomenon where policies are developed in isolation from other policy areas and without coordination.

This term highlights the negative consequences of fragmented policymaking, such as inconsistency, inefficiency, suboptimal decision-making, and poor policy delivery. Pakistan presents a compelling case study of policy silos, with numerous examples demonstrating the detrimental effects of this ad-hoc approach to governance.

First things first, let’s recognize that Pakistan is not lacking in policies. On the contrary, there is an abundance of policies and counter-policies across various sectors, each designed with specific objectives in mind. However, the implementation of these policies often occurs within isolated departmental boundaries, leading to missed opportunities for synergy and collaboration. This lack of an integrated approach results in policies that do not complement or support one another, ultimately undermining their effectiveness. This fragmentation is particularly problematic for a country like Pakistan, where interrelated challenges require cohesive and coordinated responses.

Take, for example, the development projects in Islamabad's Blue Area. Many Islamabad residents must have noticed that just a few months ago, a 1.75 km stretch of road from the F-8 signal at the Seventh Avenue intersection to the F-10 roundabout was widened. While it can be argued that an efficient mass transit system could reduce the need for road widening and thereby prevent traffic congestion and environmental degradation, let's accept the necessity (again, as an ad-hoc measure) of road widening. This project likely cost a couple of hundred million rupees.

Initially, the plan included linking the service road of the new Blue Area and Fatima Jinnah Park Gate through an overhead bridge. However, without public consultation or an environmental impact assessment (as always), the plan was abruptly changed from an overhead bridge to a pedestrian underpass. As a result, the newly constructed road is now being dug up to accommodate the underpass, leading to double expenditures: first, for the original road construction and now for its modification.

This situation could........

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