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Public Adminstration QUESTION #9554
Question 1
Pakistan's federal structure creates a concurrent legislative list under the Constitution. What is the practical administrative implication when the Federal Government creates a welfare programme but relies on provincial governments to implement it?
  • It violates the principle of unity of direction — each programme must have one head and one plan within a single governmental tier
  • It creates overlapping authority that may produce inconsistency in implementation standards, accountability gaps and inter-governmental coordination challenges✔️
  • It requires that provincial civil servants involved in implementation be deputationed to the federal government for the duration of the programme
  • It necessitates that the National Economic Council formally approve the programme before provinces can begin implementation
Correct Answer Explanation
When federal policy is implemented provincially, administrative accountability becomes fragmented — the federal government sets policy but lacks direct control over delivery, while provinces implement but may not share the same objectives or resources. This produces the classic problem of federal-provincial coordination failure, inconsistent service delivery, and blurred accountability — a structural challenge unique to public (not private) administration.