Proposed 28th amendment could devolve power to local governments

Pakistan’s proposed 28th Constitutional Amendment could mark the first comprehensive devolution of power in the country, Kamran Khan said on his program On My Radar.

Kamran Khan said the 27th amendment had strengthened the command structures of the armed forces and extended judges’ tenures through the constitutional court, sidelining the Supreme Court. But it offered little relief to Pakistan’s 250 million citizens, he added.

“The daily issues of the people, poor governance, and provinces struggling with limited resources have not been addressed,” Kamran Khan said. “Now, the public is looking to the 28th amendment to create new provinces, administrative units, or at least grant constitutional protection for devolution of power to local governments.”

Kamran Khan noted the proposed amendment could empower local governments with the authority and resources to tackle citizens’ economic and administrative issues at the grassroots level.

He questioned why the federal government, bound by the National Finance Commission (NFC) award to transfer 57.5% of national revenue to provinces, could not extend the same principle to ensure provincial revenues are shared with local governments under the Provincial Finance Commission (PFC). “If the 28th amendment moves in this direction, it will be Pakistan’s first complete constitutional devolution of power,” he said.

Kamran Khan said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and military chief Field Marshal Asim Munir have repeatedly expressed support for devolving authority and creating new provinces, with significant progress recently in Punjab. Last month, the Punjab Assembly approved a resolution granting constitutional protection to the administrative and financial powers of local governments.

“The largest province has openly demanded that, just as the NFC formula binds the federation, provinces should be obligated to share resources with local governments under Article 140A,” Kamran Khan said.

If enacted, the 28th amendment could allow citizens to experience direct participation in state decisions and ensure local problems are addressed at the district, village, and neighborhood levels.