On Thursday, 7^th May 2025, Mr. Babar Yaqoob Fateh Muhammad, former Federal Secretary and Election Commissioner of Pakistan, addressed the participants of the 37^th SMC during a Leadership Dialogue on the theme “Impact of Governance on Service Delivery at the Federal, Provincial and Local Level”.

During the session, Mr. Babar Yaqoob traced the philosophical and constitutional foundations of public service in Pakistan, starting with the functional classifications of government as necessary, desirable, and optional. Drawing from the Preamble and Articles 37 and 38 of the Constitution, he underscored the state’s obligation to ensure social, economic, and political justice through effective service delivery mechanisms across all tiers—federal, provincial, and local.

The session delved into critical indicators and benchmarks of governance such as decentralization, rule of law, anti-corruption, and state capability. Mr. Babar provided an incisive critique of Pakistan’s institutional landscape, distinguishing between inclusive and extractive institutions, and highlighting the implications of informal economies and ineffective regulatory structures. Using global indices and local data, he illustrated Pakistan’s governance challenges and the disconnect between intent and outcomes in public policy.

He further engaged participants with insights into the evolution of governance models, from minimalist state roles to expanded interventionist functions and introduced the framework of “Reinventing Government” which emphasized catalytic, anticipatory, and citizen-centric governance. He also assessed performance management systems at various levels, including Punjab’s KPI-based evaluations and FBR’s digital reforms, noting both progress and pitfalls.

Touching on structural reforms such as the 18^th Constitutional Amendment, he explored the aspirations of federalism versus the realities of provincial capacities. Through a series of comparative metrics—ranging from the Fragile States Index to Human Development rankings, he made a compelling case for aligning the scope of government with institutional strength and delivery capacity.

Mr. Babar Yaqoob while concluding reminded the audience that service delivery is measured not by policy formulation but by visible outcomes experienced by citizens. He encouraged civil servants to move beyond symbolic governance and instead embrace measurable, cost-effective, and citizen-focused performance strategies. His address was marked by a spirit of critical introspection, practical wisdom, and a call to action for improving public sector governance in Pakistan.

The session ended with an interactive Q&A segment, where participants raised pertinent questions about decentralisation, institutional effectiveness, and policy execution challenges, fostering a lively and intellectually enriching dialogue.