Opportunities and Challenges for the Provinces after the Eighteenth Amendment

Abstract

Eighteenth amendment was the consensus among all the political parties to bring a comprehensive amendment in the constitution that would restore the originality of the 1973 constitution. It enhanced the provincial autonomy. The objective of this study is to investigate the opportunities and challenges being faced by the provinces after the Eighteenth amendment. The major opportunities for the provinces are the provincial autonomy in administrative, legal and finance. The major challenges are the threats to political and economic union of Pakistan in future and provision of inadequate resources to the provinces to meet their expenditures. After passing of several years, provinces have not been given autonomy in certain ministries. So, for a true federation, devolution of resources, financial and administrative powers from central to and then to the local governments is necessary. As for as methodology is concerned, it incorporates qualitative research design besides with inductive reasoning and interpretive approach. Secondary sources such as published books, journals, newspapers, etc. are also used in it.