DECENTRALIZATION PRACTICE IN UK AND PUNJAB: A COMPARATIVE OF STUDY OF LOCAL ADMINISTRATION AND MANAGEMENT

Abstract

This abstract seeks to conduct a comparative analysis of the Local Government system of  Punjab, Pakistan introduced by Pervez Musharraf & PMLN during the period of 2000 to 2019 with respect to its structures, governance and administrative practices with the UK Parish system. The Parish system of UK, which is derived from a system that is centuries old, is basically centered on concepts of decentralization with a focus on local governance of an area and its resources as well as public funds. The Parish councils which are
established at the lower levels of the local government structure are responsible for the plight of the people and their communities in terms of development, public services, and other devolved responsibilities with active involvement from the citizenry. However, the
same can be said of the Punjab Local Government system in Pakistan which sought to decentralize power within the emerging democracy that was developing in Pakistan but has been consistently accused of centralization, inadequate finances, and apathy at the
level of communities. The literature supplemented in the study confirms these issues by asserting that, UK provides some of the better features of its self-governance, including accountability and control of democracy, that UK manages to instill in further development
of the progressive Punjab region. The paper features some of the concerns related to the Punjab province's local governance structures, like the lack of money at their disposal, the authorization of the community, and a strong dependence on the federal government which are key to any democratic society providing local governance similar to the UK Parish system.