Punjab Group Chairman Mian Amer Mahmood has said that the Constitution is not being fully implemented. Provinces collectively form the federation, and countries are run by government policies, adding that every division should be made a province. Speaking at a seminar organised by the representative body of Pakistan’s private universities “APSUP,” he thanked the participants and acknowledged the key role of Chaudhry Abdul Rehman in the education movement. 

He stated that Pakistan is a federation of four units, similar to other federations in the world like the United States, where provinces collectively make the country rather than the country creating provinces. Referring to India’s independence, he noted that it initially had a few provinces and 600 states, and highlighted that in countries with strong local governments, there is no need to frequently approach the federation. 

Mian Amer emphasised that the federal government undertakes major responsibilities, while provinces and local governments are meant to address people’s problems. “Governments are formed for public welfare, not for the happiness of rulers as in monarchies,” he said. He pointed out that smaller administrative issues are resolved at the local level, and government policies determine whether a country becomes prosperous or poor.

 “Every policy impacts future generations, and the real purpose of creating a country is public welfare,” he remarked, adding that true leaders will emerge from within society. Commenting on the economy, he said Pakistan faces a deficit with higher imports and lower exports. “We must focus on what we are giving back to the state rather than what the state is giving us,” he urged. He also criticised poor governance in Karachi where drains remain uncleared, worsening the city’s condition during rains. 

Highlighting Punjab’s size, he said it is larger than many countries with a population of 130 million alone. He lamented that Pakistan has not seen a single year without borrowing and that local governments in Punjab and Balochistan are inconsistent—sometimes formed, sometimes dissolved. “We have three pillars: federal, provincial, and local governments. Local governments exist to resolve issues of daily life,” he stressed. 

Mian Amer Mahmood said that in provinces with functioning local governments, there is less need to rely on the federation. “Unfortunately, we are deprived of strong local governments. The government believes that mere accession to power is democracy, whereas in past monarchies rulers prospered, not the people,” he added. 

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)