LAHORE: A fresh debate over government performance and institutional reforms has emerged after Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi called for an independent review of federal ministries, saying a transparent assessment could show which departments are delivering and where improvements are needed.
Naqvi said the review should be conducted by a third party and its findings should be presented before the public to ensure accountability.
The interior minister, speaking on Wednesday, said he would advise Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to evaluate the performance of all federal cabinet ministers through an independent mechanism.
Naqvi said the existing political system would remain in place and complete its constitutional five-year term, dismissing speculation about any immediate change in the government structure.
He said the purpose of the proposed assessment was to measure the performance of ministries and identify areas requiring reforms.
Read Morte: Naqvi calls for new administrative units to reform Pakistan’s governance
The remarks came days after Naqvi’s comments on the country’s governance system triggered discussion about administrative reforms and possible structural changes.
Clarifying his earlier statement, Naqvi said he was referring to the gradual weakening of the system over the past 80 years rather than targeting the current government.
“The system we are living under has collapsed. Problems cannot be solved through it,” Naqvi had said, calling for fundamental reforms and the creation of new administrative units.
Naqvi rejected the impression that he had criticised the government, saying he was part of the administration and would not issue a charge sheet against his own team.
He praised Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s work ethic, saying the premier works 14 to 16 hours a day. He added that Pakistan could achieve far greater progress if the governance structure improved.
The interior minister also highlighted government achievements, including an increase in Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) revenue, security gains and diplomatic successes, saying these results were achieved despite challenges within the existing system.
Responding to speculation about differences with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Naqvi dismissed the claims and said some people wanted to create misunderstandings between the two leaders.
The remarks drew a response from senior Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leaders.
Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said governance reforms should begin from within the Interior Ministry, adding that those who had held powerful positions could have started improvement efforts earlier.
“Better late than never,” Asif said.
PML-N leader Rana Sanaullah also criticised Naqvi’s remarks, saying those who benefited from the existing system were now questioning its ability to function.
He defended Pakistan’s parliamentary democratic structure, saying concerns about governance should be discussed through democratic institutions rather than used to weaken the parliamentary system.
