APP
Punjab Assembly Speaker Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan Tuesday called for a governance system rooted in merit, transparency, accountability and equal opportunities, emphasizing that political stability, quality education, accessible healthcare and effective public institutions were imperative for sustainable economic growth and prosperous Pakistan.
Addressing an interactive session on “Good Governance: Inclusion, Diversity and Institutional Effectiveness” at The University of Faisalabad (TUF), he said that good governance must translate into tangible improvements in people’s lives through equal opportunities, access to quality education and healthcare, protection of fundamental rights and the rule of law. He said that merit in public appointments and administrative decisions should be governed by clear, fair and transparent criteria rather than personal preferences or the discretion of individuals. Every qualified person should have an equal opportunity to advance while those entrusted with authority must remain answerable for their decisions and use of public resources, he added.
He said that political stability was imperative for economic stability while education, healthcare and law & order must be treated as national priorities if Pakistan had to overcome its deep-rooted challenges. He said that Pakistan was confronting multiple challenges including terrorism, educational deficiencies and inadequate access to quality medical services. Addressing these issues required institutional reforms, constitutional responsibility and collective commitment from all relevant stakeholders, he added.
Highlighting the gravity of education crisis, the speaker said that approximately 25 million children in Pakistan were out of school while the dropout rate at primary level stood at around 40 percent. He further pointed out that nearly 80 percent of children did not progress to higher secondary education after matriculation. Therefore, there was dire need to strengthen education system on top priority basis and prevent students from abandoning their studies.
He said that insufficient attention to education had contributed to the country’s loss of direction in this critical sector. Reversing this trend required sustained investment and effective policies for ensuring that children remained in school and had opportunities to complete their education, he added.
He also drew attention to shortcomings in the healthcare system particularly in rural areas and small cities, and stressed that quality healthcare should not be confined to major urban centers. The institutional improvements were necessary to ensure equitable access to medical services, he added. On security, he said that terrorism continued to pose a serious challenge and the state must confront it with determination while ensuring protection of the citizens and enforcement of the law.