CHITRAL: A hot debate is going on in Pakistan about changing the existing system of governance. Whereas it is generally believed that a Presidential form of government is more efficient compared to a parliamentary democratic system as seen world over,  but in Pakistan there is something more important than the system of government – the mindset of people who are administering the system.

History tells us that any sytem of government, whether it be a democracy, monarchy or even an autocracy, can inherently guarantee success or failure. History also has repeatedly shown that supposedly flawed systems can deliver stability and progress when run with integrity, while the most ideal democratic models can fail miserably under corrupt leadership. Any system, no matter how beautifully designed on paper, is only as good as the honesty of the people managing it.

The real issue in Pakistan lies in a deeply ingrained mindset that prioritizes personal gain, nepotic shortcuts, and self-serving power over merit, rule of law, and justice. When leaders at the top operate with an attitude that rules are meant to be bypassed, even a system engineered in heaven would crumble.

Instead of constantly clamoring to invent a new system, the focus should shift toward fostering a culture of honest implementation and establishing a fierce, independent mechanism of accountability, stretching all the way down to the local district level.
Real, lasting change will not come from swapping out the rules of the game, but from changing the mindset of those who play it. .. CN report, 01 Aug 2026