Forging the Future of Governance in Pakistan

Pakistan stands at a critical juncture, facing complex governance and development challenges that require bold, innovative, and sustainable solutions. For over a decade, the Reforms and Innovation in Government for High Performance (RIGHP) project has provided high-level technical expertise to support and sustain this transformation, partnering with institutions to build a more efficient, accountable, and responsive state. Closely collaborating with government for a locally owned and championed approach, RIGHP recognizes that embedding a culture of performance and results delivery is imperative for sustainable change.

Launched in 2015 and now in its second phase, RIGHP has evolved to meet the country's most pressing needs. The project’s work included the highly successful Sub-National Governance Programme–II (SNG-II), which concluded in 2026. This stream laid a crucial foundation for reform by strengthening public financial management, local revenue systems, and disaster risk governance in the provinces. Building on this legacy, RIGHP's work is now spearheaded by the National Governance Programme (NGP), a strategic and adaptive vehicle for driving systemic reforms from the center of government.

The National Governance Programme (NGP): Agile and responsive approaches toward governance reform

The National Governance Programme (NGP) is more than a project; it is an implementation philosophy designed for Pakistan's dynamic political and economic landscape. The NGP operates at the nexus of policy, performance, and politics, providing high-level technical support where it can unlock the most significant change.

Its core mandate is to strengthen the "machinery of government" itself, making it more coordinated, data-driven, and resilient. The NGP’s unique approach includes:

• Working at the Center: Engaging directly with the Prime Minister’s Office, key federal ministries, and Parliament to ensure reforms have high-level ownership and traction.
• A Whole-of-Government Approach: Connecting disparate parts of the state (federal, provincial, and legislative) to work in concert on national priorities like economic stability, climate change, and energy reform.
• Driving a Performance Culture: Institutionalizing data-driven management tools, dashboards, and regular performance reviews to shift the focus from activity to measurable results.
• Politically Smart & Adaptive Delivery: Intelligently navigating the complexities of reform by identifying windows of opportunity, building coalitions, and pivoting resources to where the political appetite for change is strongest.

Through the NGP, we are helping to build a state that is not only more effective but also more durable, with institutionalized systems that can withstand political transitions and sustain progress over the long term.

Pathways to Impact: Our Thematic Areas of Reform

The NGP delivers impact across a portfolio of interconnected reform areas that are critical to Pakistan's development.

1. Strengthening Federal Governance & Performance Management

A responsive government needs a strong center. We provide direct support to the Prime Minister’s Office and key federal institutions to strengthen coordination, monitor progress, and drive a whole-of-government approach to national priorities.

• Prime Minister’s Reform Roadmaps: We have been instrumental in supporting eleven federal and provincial reform roadmaps across sectors like finance, power, petroleum, and commerce. We help institutionalize oversight through regular, data-driven stocktakes chaired by the Prime Minister, ensuring accountability is embedded at the highest level.
• The Prime Minister’s Office System (PMOS): To modernize executive decision-making, we supported the transformation of a legacy tasking tool into a fully integrated digital platform. PMOS is now deployed on secure national servers, providing a centralized system to track high-level directives, cabinet decisions, and reform progress.

2. Improving Parliamentary Oversight & Fiscal Accountability

An effective legislature is the cornerstone of democratic accountability. We empower parliamentary committees with the independent analysis and data required to perform robust oversight, particularly over the national budget and complex economic issues.

• Evidence-Based Scrutiny: We provide the National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Finance and Revenue with macro-fiscal reports and rapid-turnaround analytical briefs, enabling more effective, evidence-based scrutiny of the federal budget.
• Building Bridges for Dialogue: We have initiated a strategic partnership with the Senate, starting with critical inter-provincial issues like water governance, to strengthen dialogue and consensus-based solutions.

3. Driving Climate Action & Environmental Governance

We are helping translate Pakistan's national climate commitments into tangible action on the ground. Recognizing that climate change requires localized solutions, we have pivoted to empower provincial governments to lead the charge.

• From National Goals to Provincial Action: Our support is helping provinces like Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sindh, and Punjab develop their first-ever provincial Greenhouse Gas (GHG) inventories. This is a foundational step for measuring their carbon footprint and accessing climate finance.
• Building Institutions for a Green Future: We are providing the legal and technical expertise to operationalize Provincial Climate Action Boards, draft Climate Change Acts, and develop Climate Finance Roadmaps, creating the durable institutions needed to drive long-term resilience.

4. Reforming the Energy Sector for a Sustainable Future

A modern, efficient, and resilient energy sector is the engine of economic growth. Our interventions focus on improving governance, promoting integrated planning, and enabling energy efficiency.

• Integrated Energy Planning: We supported the institutionalization of the Integrated Energy Plan (IEP), which embeds a long-term, data-driven approach to energy planning that balances energy security, economic growth, and environmental sustainability.
• Strengthening Regulation & Efficiency: We are providing legal support for provincial energy regulators and working to integrate Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS) into public procurement to drive energy efficiency at scale.

5. Building Fiscal Resilience through Pension Reform

Unsustainable pension liabilities pose a significant threat to provincial finances. We are at the forefront of supporting one of the most critical fiscal reforms in Pakistan today: the transition to fiscally sustainable, defined contribution pension schemes.

• A Landmark Transition: In Punjab, our support has been pivotal in operationalizing an automated SAP-based payroll module for the new pension scheme, successfully onboarding approximately 15,000 employees in its initial phase.
• A Nationwide Movement: We are supporting a similar transition to automation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and have helped Sindh lay the foundational groundwork with actuarial analysis, building a national movement toward fiscal sustainability.

6. Advancing Digital Transformation & E-Governance

We harness technology to make government more transparent and efficient. Our work goes beyond simply developing tools to ensuring they are integrated, owned, and used effectively by our government partners.

• Aid Effectiveness Dashboard: We developed and deployed a digital dashboard for the Ministry of Economic Affairs to improve the tracking and management of foreign assistance, strengthening transparency and coordination.
• Modernizing the Civil Service: Our analytical support to the Federal Public Service Commission (FPSC) is providing the evidence base needed to reform recruitment rules and modernize the Central Superior Services (CSS) examination.

Our Commitment to a Sustainable Future

True success is when reforms are so deeply embedded that they become "the way things are done." Our approach is centered on sustainability and government ownership. We focus on:

• Building Human Capacity: Through training, toolkits, and hands-on support, we ensure civil servants have the skills to manage new systems and processes.
• Anchoring Reforms in Law and Process: From legislative packages to standard operating procedures, we help create the formal structures that give reforms legitimacy and permanence.
• Adaptive Management: We actively learn from what works and what doesn’t, continuously refining our approach and pivoting resources to where they can have the greatest impact.

Looking Ahead: The Future of Governance is Now

The National Governance Programme is at the forefront of shaping a more capable and resilient Pakistan. We will continue to support our government partners in navigating complex challenges, from climate finance and energy transitions to fiscal stability and digital innovation. By strengthening the core institutions of governance, we are helping to build a more prosperous, equitable, and sustainable future for all.