Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi declared on Thursday that Pakistan’s current governance framework has collapsed and is incapable of resolving the nation’s pressing issues. Speaking at the Pakistan Economic Summit in Islamabad, he emphasized the urgent need for administrative reforms, including the establishment of new administrative units.
Naqvi warned that without fundamental changes, Pakistan would continue to grapple with the same problems for the next decade. He stated, “If this system continues, we will still be sitting here 10 years from now discussing the same issues.” Highlighting the necessity of addressing structural weaknesses, he advocated for the creation of administrative units, whether called provinces or by any other name, to improve governance.
In a significant development, the interior minister reaffirmed his strong support for democracy, acknowledging the existence of various democratic models. He also underscored the importance of merit-based employment, noting that the youth demand fair job opportunities rather than financial handouts. “Young people have only one demand: they want jobs on merit,” he remarked.
Naqvi further pointed to Pakistan’s escalating debt burden as a critical concern, cautioning that continued borrowing without reforms would exacerbate economic difficulties. He praised Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s dedication, mentioning his 12 to 14-hour workdays, but added that even extended hours amounted to mere “firefighting” without systemic institutional reforms.
He advocated for devolving powers to lower administrative tiers and suggested dividing provinces on administrative grounds to enhance governance and accelerate development. Additionally, Naqvi called for increased involvement of the business community in economic policymaking, stressing that economic progress is unattainable without their active participation.
Meanwhile, he urged political factions to set aside differences for the sake of national interest. While acknowledging that the current system is not entirely flawed, he insisted that comprehensive reforms are essential to achieve sustainable improvements in governance and economic stability.
