Seeking the opportunity to share and foster robust national public discourse on development challenges and solutions in Pakistan and to provide a platform for Pakistani authorities, civil society and intelligentsia to exchange ideas on key development solution pathways in Pakistan, UNDP has launched its quarterly development magazine,The Development Advocate.

A combination of analysis and public opinion articles promote and inform public discourse on development ideas while providing up-to-date information. This publication presents varying perspectives from civil society, academia, government and development partners, with an explicit effort to include the voices of women in youth in the ongoing dialogue.

The first edition titled A New Way Forward for Local Governance in Pakistan focuses on local governance including perspectives from the civil society, academia and government counterparts. In countries around the world, the absence of effective local governance arrangements exacerbates inequality, instability and underdevelopment, as well as social exclusion and lack of empowerment among youth, women and minority groups. Local government is fundamental to mitigating these grievances as it brings government closer to the people, and has the potential to increase the quality and coverage of services to citizens.

Editorial

ANALYSIS

The Election Commission of Pakistan and Local Government Elections

Local Government Acts 2013 and Province-Local Government Relations by Saeed Shafqat

Regional Local Government Lessons Thusitha Pilapitiya

OPINION

Taking Democracy to the Doorsteps of Citizens by Naseer Memon

Local Governments and the Participation of Women by Aurat Foundation

Local Governments and Religious Minorities by Harris Khalique

Delimitation of Constituencies: A Vital Component of Elections by Democracy Reporting International

Local Governance in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas by Qazi Jamil

Local Government in FATA by Zahid Hussain

INTERVIEWS

Sardar Mustafa Khan Tarin, Balochistan Minister for Local Government

Aslam Rind, Quetta city local body representative

Sharjil Memon, Minister for Local Government, Sindh

Inayatullah Khan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Minister for Local Government and Rural Development

Rana Sanaullah, Punjab Local Government Minister