Federalism in Pakistan After 18th Amendment

Abstract

Federalism is a governance concept that divides power and sovereignty between the center and federating units, or provinces. From the very beginning, the center-province relations in Pakistan were very hostile and unfriendly. The small provinces like KPK and Baluchistan, as well as Sindh, have grievances and reservations about resource distribution and allocation. The eighteenth amendment, which was passed by the parliament and got the assent of President Asif Ali Zardari on April 19, 2010, minimized the grievances and reservations among the federating units. The Eighteenth Amendment abolished concurrent lists and transferred the items of concurrent lists to provincial lists, which restored provincial autonomy to some extent. The main purpose and aim of the eighteenth amendment are: transparency in the system, curtailing individual discretion, strengthening parliament and provincial assemblies, provincial autonomy, independence of the judiciary, strengthening fundamental rights, the question of merit, good governance, and strengthening the institutions.