Islamabad (Khyber Mail): The second day of the National Learning Event 2024 brought together policymakers, development partners, and civil society stakeholders to explore governance reforms focused on local government empowerment, inclusive development planning, and civil service reform.
Key sessions included discussions on factors affecting local governments’ effectiveness, emphasizing the need for constitutional amendments to empower local governments fully. The importance of local governance in building accountable and inclusive systems was highlighted.
Development planning reforms aimed at social inclusion and gender responsiveness were also discussed. Presenters like Iftikhar Ali Sahoo and Rashida Dohad shared insights on challenges and innovations, such as Gender Budgeting Tagging initiatives in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab to promote equity.
The final session focused on enhancing public sector performance through civil service reform and results-based management. Discussions included the need to rationalize civil service salaries and the ‘Deliverology’ approach for improving efficiency and accountability.
The event concluded with remarks from Jo Moir, Development Director at FCDO, and Mujib Sadozai, Programme Director of the Sub-National Governance (SNG) Programme. They reiterated their commitment to advancing governance reforms, emphasizing the need for a more accountable, transparent, and inclusive governance system in Pakistan.