2023 - The Constitution of Pakistan: Lessons for the Next 50 Years

The constitution of Pakistan, 1973 embodies national consensus by documenting and defining the national identity and character. The national confidence in the apex law has given it the resilience to survive several adventures. Defining the national character and characteristics, it responds to the requirements and aspirations of the ethnic, linguistic, cultural, religious, and parochial cross-section of society. As a federal and parliamentary constitution, it strives to maintain a balance between all constituent units and segments of society through political representation and fiscal management. A thorough scheme for division of powers defines the exclusive domains as well as mutual relations and dependence of the major organs of the state. These mechanisms are elaborate enough to be practical but flexible enough to allow necessary improvisation.
Unfortunately, the deliberate flexibility as well as the explicit instructions have been sacrificed for short-term critical gains by successive governments. The balance of power
has remained dwindling between different stakeholders. This has hampered progress and disturbed national cohesion on many levels.
On completion of 50 years of the Constitution of Pakistan in 2023, there is a need to deliberate the next 50 years with a futuristic vision and focus on better governance, inclusive policies, and synergized frameworks. The Constitution of Pakistan, 1973 was passed by the Parliament on April 10, and it came into force on August 14. To commemorate the golden jubilee of the apex law of the country, the Institute of Policy Studies Islamabad (IPS) is holding an international conference on the above subject. The hybrid conference shall bring together law experts and practitioners on important constitutional themes.
The themes and sub-themes of the conference are centered on legal, socio-political, and governance dimensions related to political representation, center-province relations, civil-military relations, and legislature-judiciary relations.