Privatisation and Investment Minister Dr Abdul Hafeez Sheikh on Thursday stressed for reducing size of government with major emphasis on redirecting its role and reforming it to ensure better governance. He believed that the government in Pakistan is over centralised and urged to redefine its role in various sectors, as its role in the past was not based on realities and facts.
Speaking at a dinner meeting of the 21st Century Business and Economic Club here at a local hotel, the minister dwelt at length on the challenge of reforming the government, which was the theme of the meeting.
In order to compete with the emerging challenges of new era, he said that there is a dire need to reduce the size of the government, redirecting its role and bring in reforms, as it is the only way forward to cope with these challenges.
He said that unless size of the government is reduced, reformation and redirecting the governance would be unmanageable and would remain an unfulfilled dream.
"As a matter of fact, size of the government is not only big, but it is becoming larger with the passage of time," he added.
He advocated for strengthening district government system. "I believe in quality and not the quantity. Big size of the government does not guarantee better governance and progress of the country," he said, adding that this over-centralised system has worsened the situation.
He said that instead of expanding its role, the government should confine it to some core areas. Identifying four core areas, he said that firstly, it should look after the matters pertaining to national security, law and order, judicial system, policy formulation and regulation.
Secondly, it should see the social sector, thirdly, infrastructure development and fourthly the government should supply essential goods.
When we talk of role of the government, he added, it must be remembered that it should be that of a facilitator rather than blocking the things. "If we want to be able to compete in new era, we must redefine the role of government and implement it in its true sense for betterment and development of nation," he added.
Recalling his time in Sindh Cabinet, Hafeez shared his experiences as Sindh minister and said that he saw very closely government matters at that time. He regretted that he came across some very dismal situations at that time.
Responding to queries, he agreed that regulatory role of the government should be strengthened.
On the investment side, he said that foreign direct investment (FDI) has been increasing gradually for the last few years. "We witnessed remarkable increase in the last four to five years and in the last fiscal year we crossed the mark of $1 billion and hopefully it would cross over $3 billion in the current fiscal," he hoped.
Founder President of the Club Syed Salahuddin Haider and others also spoke on the occasion.