The cost of governing

A province can survive a change of government. But can its reforms survive the suspension of elected government itself? That is the question facing Khyber Pakhtunkhwa after the imposing of governor’s rule and emergency on October 11. The debate should not be a fight between Islamabad and KP Government. What is at stake is whether a special constitutional action will keep the institutions, services and financial promises safe for millions of people. However, Article 234 was made for when the constitution fails, not for disagreements about policies or political parties.

It is tempting to treat governor’s rule as a short interruption before politics resumes. Public policy, however, does not operate on such a convenient clock. Hospitals enter contracts, teachers are recruited, road schemes move through procurement, and social protection programmes build expectations among beneficiaries. Even a temporary change in who approves expenditure or appoints officials can interrupt those processes. A project paused for a few months may lose a construction season; a hospital payment delayed can immediately affect patients.

The 2026-27 budget of KP shows clearly what is on the line when there is uncertainty about the constitution or how things are run. The budget expects to spend Rs2.17 trillion and has a development plan Rs524.3bn. The province has promises to keep. The money given to Sehat Card is Rs46.7bn, for medicines it’s Rs14.3bn for public universities Rs11.8bn and for children who are not in school Rs5bn. These choices show what matters most to people. The promises in the budget do not help if they are not carried out on time. Disputes about politics or the constitution should not stop healthcare, education or other important services. Anyone in charge of the province needs to keep things running share details about the money and explain if they change the plans. In the end how well the government works is not about what’s promised but about what is actually done.

Looking beyond money the bigger danger is hurting the reforms that make KP stronger and more independent. The 2026-27 budget gives Rs19.3bn for a Good Governance Roadmap, Rs14.5bn for buying police equipment and Rs7.9bn for police work. These show the effort to make public groups stronger. Also important are the money rights KP gets from the constitution, under the NFC Award. KP gets 14.62pc of the money meant for provinces and an extra 1pc because of the cost of the war. The governor’s rule under Article 234 does not take away the rights that’re in Article 160. With Rs1.468tr coming from the government the parliament needs to make sure the money is given in a regular way used clearly and that the reforms continue. The constitution should not be used as a reason to take away the power of the province or to make the financial rules less strict.

Particular attention is needed in the merged districts. The budget shows Rs272.8 billion in money set aside for these areas. Still problems like insecurity, poor services and few job chances are all linked. If security efforts work better together it can open doors for development. If schools, hospitals and roads keep getting disrupted that could hurt the peace we’re trying to build. Success can’t mean control in Peshawar. It must mean changes in everyday life across the whole province.

This is the democratic dilemma in its clearest form. Sometimes constitutional democracies need powers to bring back order. Those powers are only okay if they stay within the law and work toward normal government again. When the elected leaders are taken out people lose a voice in decisions about hospitals, schools, police and spending. So, Parliament and the courts must check whether these powers are really needed and fair. The government must show that basic services and checks on power are still working.

A credible way forward is available. Publish every month how much money comes in from NFC and how it is spent. Keep promises to health, education and welfare. Share any changes to the development plan. Protect the independence of bodies that hold people accountable. Lay out a clear plan to return to elected civilian rule within the rules of the constitution. These aren’t favors to any group. They are promising the people of KP deserve. By past examples they are promises owed to every province in the country.

Governor’s rule can be defended as a tool to restore order. Its real judgment will come when it ends. If peace is built by breaking institutions stopping progress and losing trust in the province then the cost will be high. The real test is this: Can the state keep its people safe without taking their right to choose their own leaders?