Good Governance Council is being registered to become the parent body of the Good Governance Forum.

Message from Founder & Moderator

Good governance is a pivotal issue in developing countries encompassing all facets of life be it the politics, government, economy, parliament, judiciary, media, private and public sectors, or non-governmental organizations (NGOs). Good governance, in my opinion, takes its cue from the top leadership. As good the top leadership, as good the governance. It is said that it is the chief executive who makes or breaks a corporation. So, I believe, is true of the government.

Good Governance Forum is dedicated to the exchange of expertise, opinions, and suggestions amongst the educated class of Pakistan, belonging to the various segments of our society. The educated class is the brain and the backbone of Pakistan and morally bound to contribute towards the betterment of the people of all income groups and occupations. Being educated and enlightened is a great blessing and I firmly believe that we are accountable to Almighty Allah who bestowed the blessing of knowledge upon us. There may be hundreds of thousands of individuals out there endowed with more intelligence, stamina and capabilities than us but unable to receive education.

Good Governance Forum is a non-political, non-ethnic and non-earning platform for exchange of views among the network members numbering 1000+ who belong to almost all segments of the civil society of Pakistan including scholars, educationists, civil society activists, parliamentarians, politicians, journalists, businessmen, industrialists, bureaucrats, military officers and so on.

All visitors to this blog are welcome to post their comments, openly and freely, for the benefit of others who have access to the internet and who would love to be enlightened.

Best

Mumtaz A. Piracha

Founder & Moderator

Good Governance Forum

Karachi - Pakistan

Weblog: : http://www.ggovernance.co.cc/

email: good.governance@gmail.com

Guiding Principles of Good Governance Forum

Good Governance Forum is the largest, most-diversified and globally-searched platform for the exchange of views, opinions and ideas of learned and concerned citizens from all walks of life on public issues, directly or indirectly related to governance and allied subjects.

It does not assume any liability whatsoever for the network members' views nor does it necessarily agree with them.

It respects privacy. Anybody can join in or opt out of the network any time by sending an email to good.governance@gmail.com 'Unsubscribe Me' in the subject field.

Anybody can post his/her comments by visiting the blogsite and clicking on the link COMMENTS on its home page. Comments may be deleted by the forum's Moderator if these violate the guiding principles and rules of the forum.

Rules of Good Governance Forum

1. A member can initiate discussion on a topic by addressing his/her email ONLY to the forum, NOT to other members. It is upto the forum's moderator to circulate it or not amongst other members.

2. A member can mark copies ONLY to those who participate in discussion on a specific topic, NOT to all members of the email group.

3. A member MUST not call names, use indecent language, and personalize discussion on any topic.

4. A member has the privilege to express his/her views openly and frankly. However, no member is ALLOWED to enter into "You are wrong, I am right" debate.

5. A member can express his/her views ONLY on issues relating to governance and allied topics including the independence and sovereignty of Pakistan, its State organs and international relations. Unrelated topics are to be avoided.

The forum has categorized members into several email groups keeping in view their background and interest. An email is addressed to members of one or more specific groups, not to all groups. Our categories include bureaucrats, diplomats, military, politicians, print media, electronic media, formanites, businessmen and industrialists, think tanks, and Misc (Prime List) etc. Other groups can be added if so desired.

The forum, however, maintains a Prime List where members belonging to different occupations and interest groups are included. Every email goes to its members. If any member wants to be dropped from the Prime List and be retained in his/her specific group, he/she is welcome to inform the forum.

The Moderator of the forum reserves the right to remove any member from any group in his sole discretion if the member continues to violate the forum's rules.

Relevant Blogs

http://goodgovernancecouncil.blogspot.com

http://challengesforpakistan.blogspot.com

http://pakistanjustice.blogspot.com

http://pakistanpoliticians.blogspot.com

http://pakistanbureaucracy.blogspot.com

http://pakistanelectricity.blogspot.com

Introduction to Good Governance

INTRODUCTION

Recently the terms "governance" and "good governance" are being increasingly used in development literature. Bad governance is being increasingly regarded as one of the root causes of all evil within our societies. Major donors and international financial institutions are increasingly basing their aid and loans on the condition that reforms that ensure "good governance" are undertaken.

GOOD GOVERNANCE

Good governance has 8 major characteristics. It is participatory, consensus oriented, accountable, transparent, responsive, effective and efficient, equitable and inclusive and follows the rule of law. It assures that corruption is minimized, the views of minorities are taken into account and that the voices of the most vulnerable in society are heard in decision-making. It is also responsive to the present and future needs of society.

Participation

Participation by both men and women is a key cornerstone of good governance. Participation could be either direct or through legitimate intermediate institutions or representatives. It is important to point out that representative democracy does not necessarily mean that the concerns of the most vulnerable in society would be taken into consideration in decision making. Participation needs to be informed and organized. This means freedom of association and expression on the one hand and an organized civil society on the other hand.

Rule of law

Good governance requires fair legal frameworks that are enforced impartially. It also requires full protection of human rights, particularly those of minorities. Impartial enforcement of laws requires an independent judiciary and an impartial and incorruptible police force.

Transparency

Transparency means that decisions taken and their enforcement are done in a manner that follows rules and regulations. It also means that information is freely available and directly accessible to those who will be affected by such decisions and their enforcement. It also means that enough information is provided and that it is provided in easily understandable forms and media.

Responsiveness

Good governance requires that institutions and processes try to serve all stakeholders within a reasonable timeframe.

Characteristics of good governance

Consensus oriented

There are several actors and as many view points in a given society. Good governance requires mediation of the different interests in society to reach a broad consensus in society on what is in the best interest of the whole community and how this can be achieved. It also requires a broad and long-term perspective on what is needed for sustainable human development and how to achieve the goals of such development. This can only result from an understanding of the historical, cultural and social contexts of a given society or community.

Equity and inclusiveness

A society’s well being depends on ensuring that all its members feel that they have a stake in it and do not feel excluded from the mainstream of society. This requires all groups, but particularly the most vulnerable, have opportunities to improve or maintain their well being.

Effectiveness and efficiency

Good governance means that processes and institutions produce results that meet the needs of society while making the best use of resources at their disposal. The concept of efficiency in the context of good governance also covers the sustainable use of natural resources and the protection of the environment.

Accountability

Accountability is a key requirement of good governance. Not only governmental institutions but also the private sector and civil society organizations must be accountable to the public and to their institutional stakeholders. Who is accountable to whom varies depending on whether decisions or actions taken are internal or external to an organization or institution. In general an organization or an institution is accountable to those who will be affected by its decisions or actions. Accountability cannot be enforced without transparency and the rule of law.

CONCLUSION

From the above discussion it should be clear that good governance is an ideal which is difficult to achieve in its totality. Very few countries and societies have come close to achieving good governance in its totality. However, to ensure sustainable human development, actions must be taken to work towards this ideal with the aim of making it a reality.

Source: http://www.unescap.org/huset/gg/governance.htm


GOOD GOVERNANCE ISSUES IN PAKISTAN

Good governance has been an over-riding, perennial, key issue in Pakistan during its 61-year history, starting from the 14th of August 1947. Without going into the past, the country is today faced with grave public issues of inflation, unemployment, poverty, law and order, electricity, water, gas, transport, housing, education, health, justice, corruption, maladministration, and political instability. The tasks ahead are gigantic and demand a high level of competence, courage and commitment from the political leadership, civilian bureaucracy, and civil society organizations to lead the country of 160 million souls to stability, progress and prosperity.

Pakistan has an immense geo-political strategic position. It borders Afghanistan, China, India, Iran and provides access to the CIS in Central Asia via Afghanistan. It has a direct route to the Arabian Gulf. The Arabian Sea marks Pakistan's southern boundary with 1064 km coastline. It has been a long-time close ally of China and Iran. Being a major Muslim country, Pakistan shares religious affiliation with Iran and enjoys brotherly relations with Arab States in the Middle East and Muslim countries in the South Asia. It has been allied with the United States of America from the beginning of its establishment and remained a part of the US sponsored political and military alliances of SEATO and CENTO for a long time. It is also a member of the British Commonwealth of Nations.

The port of Gawadar in Balochistan, the largest land-mass province of Pakistan rich in natural resources such as natural gas, coal, marble, chrome, silver etc., has been largely constructed and financed by China. The Gawadar Port will provide a cheap, convenient and comfortable route for shipments to and from the Arabian Gulf, the Central Asian Republics and China. It could also be used by the American and European shipping lines. Road link to Afghanistan and Central Asian Republics from there onwards will greatly contribute to the international trade, bringing cost and time savings to the shippers and prosperity to the destination cities. There is already a road link from Quetta to Iran. Gawadar will also be linked by road to the major cities of Pakistan.

Pakistan is probably one of the rare countries of the world endowed with every thing. It has land, sea, rivers, four seasons, manpower, agriculture, industry, natural and mineral resources, oil, gas, vegetables, fruits, foodgrains, livestock, dairy farms, roads, railways, airways, shipping lines, telecommunications, coastline, and what not. It can meet most of its requirements from its domestic resources.

What Pakistan badly needs today is the WILL TO DO AND THE COMPETENCE TO DO to tap the country's vast resources. Nothing can stop the country from progressing fast once its will to do is put into full gear. Competence will come along. Money, technology, and foreign collaboration are no problem once the political stability is achieved, progressive policies are formulated, and well-designed programmes are implemented in all earnest to show to the world that we are determined to move ahead in the new century.

Under the country's Constitution, adopted by all political parties and provinces in 1973, the role of each organ of the state i.e. the executive, parliament and judiciary is clearly defined. What is needed is the adherence of the political government to the tenets of the Constitution. With Unity, Faith and Discipline in our heads and hearts, we can live together, work together and progress together. Sectarian, linguistic, and ethnic considerations cannot overtake the nation's determination to forge unity and live in peace.

The ongoing threat of militancy in the tribal belt is borne out of the absence of political government, equitable distribution of wealth and resources, economic, legal and social justice, respect for tribal traditions, customs and values and fair and firm settlement of issues agitating the minds of the tribes. The tribes are as good Muslims, patriotic and Pakistani as anybody else but like country's other regions, the tribal region also needs a different treatment. Once the government of Pakistan is fully conscious of the underlying stresses and strains and it determines with courage, confidence and competence to resolve the thorny issues, peace and tranquility are bound to return faster than imagined.

As far as the Kashmir dispute with India is concerned, we have lived with it and fought for it in 1948, 1965 and 1971, notwithstanding Kargil. We now have to stop thinking about using arms to resolve the issue and start using peaceful means with honesty and sincerety to come to an acceptable solution. Neither India nor Pakistan can afford to keep the issue burning for indefinite time and keep the people of Occupied Jammu & Kashmir in a state of despair and despondency for too long. The Kashmir issue has cost India and Pakistan huge sums of men, money and materials overtime and the defence budget of each country is still taking a major chunk of its national exchequer in the presence of mass poverty and under development in the rural areas

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Announcement:

Crossed Swords by Shuja Nawaz

Based on 30 years of research and analysis, this definitive book is a profound, multi-layered, and historical analysis of the nature and role of the Pakistan army in the country’s polity as well as its turbulent relationship with the United States.
(Oxford University Press, 2008)

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