IMPACT OF THE EIGHTEENTH CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT ON PROVINCIAL AUTONOMY IN PAKISTAN

Abstract

The current study tries to understand the impact of Eighteenth Constitutional Amendment on the subject of Provincial Autonomy in the context of 1973 Constitution of Pakistan. In the Constitutional history of Pakistan, the Eighteenth Amendment represents with far-reaching impact was a first bold and great step towards the provincial autonomy, with strong legislative, administrative and financial powers. The Eighteenth Amendment of Pakistan is well defender of nation’s rights in form of provincial autonomy as well. The role of political leadership and parties in power at the center and federating units must be given credit for this positive step of constitutional transformation which strengthened the federation of Pakistan. The Eighteenth Amendment further strengthened the federal structure of Pakistan as it transferred the subjects of Concurrent Legislative List to the provinces and restored parliamentary democracy as envisioned in the 1973 Constitution. Therefore the knowledge of impact of Eighteenth Amendment on provincial autonomy avoids the ambiguity, uncertainty and removes unclear, vague issues. It removes the re-iterate statements, dissent notes and uncompromised level regarding provincial autonomy. It has also analyzed the Legislative, administrative and financial relations to bridge the gap amid center-provinces in Pakistan. In fact this study of existing constitutional structure and balance of powers has proven a fruit of good provincial autonomy.