January 30; Support is needed in developing existing intergovernmental institutions, to promote cooperative Federal practices, and to develop experience in conflict resolution at the Federal - Provincial level, said the Honourable Senator Farah Aqil Shah, Chairperson Senate Standing Committee on Inter-Provincial Coordination (IPC). She was addressing the Workshop for Senior Civil Service Officials on the subject of Consolidating Democratic Devolution: Inter-Government Relations, Fiscal Management and Accountability, organized by PILDAT and Forum of Federations, Canada that began its second workshop here in Islamabad today.

There is much to be done in order to see successful implementation of the constitutional reforms and to literally see the benefits of these constitutional reforms experienced by the people. This requires building state capacity in the process of transition management which will be a key to the success of this democratic transition. Supporting key reforms and strengthening a political transition are vital to internal and regional security and stability.

Prof. Dr. Syed Jaffar Ahmad, Director Pakistan Study Centre, University of Karachi briefed the participants on the historical evolution of Pakistan and said that Pakistan's federalism has evolved over a long period. It has passed through different phases and has moved ahead through a series of trials and errors. It has eventually come to a point where one can say with some confidence that if it is operated both in letter and spirit, it could result in a successful and viable federalism.

Dr. Leslie Seidle, Senior Program Adviser, Forum of Federations (FoF), gave a thorough presentation on the concept of Federation and the Inter Governmental Relations in Federal Systems. He highlighted Cooperative Federalism, Inter Government Institutions and processes and Inter Governmental Agreements.

Mr. Ahmad M. Zahid, Former Federal Secretary, said that an overly centrist mindset poses the biggest challenge to implementing the devolution processes effectively. This was argued on the misperception of administrative capacity of the provinces also to run these activities smoothly God knows this mindset was the outcome of the provision of the Constitution of 1962 or whether those provisions were the reflection of our psyche at the time and which still haunts us.

Earlier, Mr. Phillip Gonzalez, Program Manager Forum of Federations said that the Workshop is basically designed to understand fully the national comparative development in Inter Government Relations (IGR) and provide the opportunity to the participants to better understand the functioning processes involved in Inter Government Relations, Fiscal Management and Accountability.

Mr. Ahmed Bilal Mehboob, President PILDAT welcomed the Senior Civil Service Officials. He expressed his gratitude for the participation Senior Federal Government Officials in the workshop. Mr. Mehboob said that the objective of these workshops is Consolidation of Democratic Devolution and understand the processes of Inter Government relations, Fiscal Management and Accountability. On Forums of Federations, he said PILDAT is delighted to partner with the Forum in organizing these training workshops.

Later the participants were divided into two groups for small group discussions; where they were asked to come up with suggestions and recommendation for effective implementation of Devolution process and fiscal rights to provinces will lead to a meaningful autonomy. Mr. Tariq Amin, Deputy Secretary Ministry of Inter Provincial Coordination and Mr. Hasnain Syed, Joint Secretary Ministry of Finance represented their respective groups for the presentation on suggestions and recommendations.

These workshops are part of the project funded by the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade & Development of the Government of Canada.

Following Discussion Papers were also shared among participants as backgrounder on Federalism:
Historical Evolution of Federalism in Pakistan  [English Version]   [Urdu Version]

Inter-Governmental Relations in Pakistan Evolution and Potential with Relation to 18th Amendment  [English Version]   [Urdu Version]

Pakistan Fiscal Management And Accountability [English Version]