PUBLIC POLICY Dr.

Ume Laila
Associate Professor,

FORMULATON Government & Public Policy,

S3H, NUST
PUBLIC POLICY
Public policy refers to the course of action or decisions made by the government to
address various societal issues, guide its operations, and achieve desired goals.
In the context of Pakistan, public policy encompasses a wide range of decisions,
rules, and actions taken by the government to address the country's unique
challenges and opportunities.
These policies can be related to social, economic, political, or security issues, and
they play a crucial role in shaping the nation's development and governance.
PUBLIC POLICY
‘Public’: relating to, or affecting all the people of a country or state
‘Policy’: prudence or wisdom in the management of affairs
Is there a proper definition of the word ‘Public Policy’?
Oxford Handbook of Public Policy
“the study of public policy is a mood more than a science, a loosely organized body of precepts and
positions rather than a tightly integrated body of systematic knowledge, more art and craft than a
genuine ‘science’”.
Other Definitions:
1. Policy is “whatever governments choose to do or not to do” (Dye, 1987);
2. “the relationship of governmental unit to its environment” (Eysestone, 1971);
3. “the actions, objectives, and pronouncements of governments on particular matters, the steps they
take (or fail to take) to implement them, and the explanations they give for what happens (or does
not happen)” (Wilson, 2006);
4. “a purposive course of action or inaction undertaken by an actor or set of actors in dealing with a
problem or matter of concern” (Anderson, 1994).
QUESTION: SO THEN WHY STUDY PUBLIC POLICY?
Consider the following challenges facing Pakistan;
a) Pakistan’s total foreign debt amounts to more than $ 60 billion
b) Pakistan’s exports have always been low compared to imports (except for a one or 2 years of its existence).
Implication: more foreign currency flows out, thus dwindling our foreign exchange reserves. Lower foreign
exchange reserve have their own negative implications (lower credit ratings plus difficulty in importing).
c) Persistent power outages, load shedding and its negative impacts.
d) Every Pakistani is now burdened with an average debt of Rs. 80,000/-.
e) Pakistan has some of the lowest human development indicators in the world, only better than a few African
countries.
f) Millions of school going children are out of school
g) More than half of the population does not have access to clean drinking water.
h) Sanitation conditions throughout the country are extremely poor.
i) Pakistan is now considered a ‘water stressed’ country, meaning that per capita availability of water is
dwindling day by day and water availability is low.
j) Corruption is endemic and rampant.
TENETS OF GOOD POLICY
 Deliberate objectives (development, program, project and service level), goals and
desired outcomes
 Implement ability: Compatible to or able to create structures, systems of
enforcement, willingness, social support, practical
 Room for reforms: Timely improvements and dynamic adjustments
 Made with system approach —demand-interaction-supply
 Broad-based participation of public (making and implementation) —process and
collaborative exercise
TENETS OF GOOD POLICY

• Compatibility, harmony and synergy

• Clear, concise and enforceable
• Legitimacy
• Responsiveness
• Global dimension– global perspectives with local priorities
• Effective monitoring mechanism
COMMON CHARACTERISTICS
OF A PUBLIC POLICY
Despite the vastness of the subject content, we turn to some of the commonalities of
‘why’ study public policy? The major ones are as follows.

1. Improving welfare of the citizens of a country.

2. Differentiate between good and bad policies.
3. Improve governance for better outcomes.
4. Towards a viable, strong nation.
5. The macro and micro level differentiation for better outcomes
COMMON CHARACTERISTICS
OF A PUBLIC POLICY
a) Policy is not random but purposive and goal oriented;
b) public policy is made by public authorities;
c) public policy consists of patterns of actions taken over time;
d) public policy is a product of demand, a government-directed course of action in
response to pressure about some perceived problem;
e) public policy can be positive (a deliberately purposive action) or negative (a
deliberately purposive decision not to take action).
POLICY MAKING PROCESS
PUBLIC POLICY IN THE CONTEXT OF PAKISTAN:

Economic Policy: Pakistan's economic policy involves decisions on taxation, trade,

investment, and public spending. For example, policies related to industrial
incentives, trade agreements, and fiscal measures like the annual budget are key
components of economic policy.
Social Policy: Social policies in Pakistan address issues like education, healthcare,
social welfare, and poverty alleviation. For instance, the government may formulate
policies to increase access to quality education, improve healthcare infrastructure,
and provide social safety nets to vulnerable populations.
Environmental Policy: Given environmental challenges such as pollution and water
scarcity, Pakistan's environmental policies aim to protect and sustain the natural
environment. These policies might include regulations for air and water quality,
conservation efforts, and measures to combat climate change.
Foreign Policy: Pakistan's foreign policy outlines its diplomatic stance, alliances,
and interactions with other nations. This policy affects the country's relations with
countries like the United States, China, India, and Afghanistan.
Security and Defense Policy: Pakistan's security and defense policy encompasses its stance on national
security and military strategies. It includes policies related to counterterrorism, defense expenditure, and
maintaining the security of its borders.
Agricultural Policy: Given the significance of agriculture in Pakistan, there are policies addressing crop
subsidies, irrigation, and land reforms to promote food security and support rural livelihoods.
Energy Policy: Policies related to energy address issues like the provision of electricity, development of
alternative energy sources, and addressing power shortages, which have been persistent problems in
Pakistan.
Social Justice and Human Rights Policy: These policies aim to promote human rights, social justice, and
address issues like gender inequality and minority rights.
Healthcare Policy: In light of healthcare challenges, public policies focus on improving healthcare
infrastructure, access to medical services, and controlling the spread of diseases.
Education Policy: Pakistan's education policies aim to enhance literacy rates and improve the quality of
education. This includes policies for primary and higher education, as well as vocational training.
Public policies in Pakistan are often developed through a combination of governmental initiatives,
parliamentary debates, and input from various stakeholders, including civil society organizations and
experts. The effectiveness of these policies can vary, and their success depends on factors like
implementation, funding, and evaluation. Public policy in Pakistan continues to evolve to address the
country's changing needs and challenges.
TYPES OF POLICIES
1. Substantive Policies:
 Definition: These policies aim to address significant societal issues or changes. They often set fundamental principles and guidelines for
government actions in various areas.
 Example: In Pakistan, the National Education Policy 2021 is a substantive policy. It sets out the vision, goals, and guidelines for improving the
country's education system.

Case Study: The implementation of the National Education Policy 2021 focuses on curriculum reforms, teacher
training, and infrastructure development to transform Pakistan's education sector.
2. Regulatory Policies:
 Definition: These policies are designed to regulate specific industries, activities, or behaviors, often by setting rules, standards, and oversight
mechanisms.
 Example: The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) Act is a regulatory policy that governs and oversees the telecommunications
industry in Pakistan.

Case Study: The PTA plays a significant role in regulating telecommunications in Pakistan, ensuring network quality,
data protection, and adherence to guidelines.
3. Distributive Policies:
 Definition: These policies aim to distribute resources, benefits, or opportunities to specific groups or regions within a country.
 Example: Benazir Income Support Program (BISP) is a distributive policy in Pakistan that provides financial assistance to low-income families.

Case Study: The BISP has significantly impacted poverty reduction and economic stability for vulnerable populations
in Pakistan.
TYPES OF POLICIES
4. Redistributive Policies:
 Definition: Redistributive policies seek to reallocate wealth or resources from one group to another to
reduce economic inequalities.
 Example: Taxation policies that impose progressive tax rates on higher income brackets, with the aim of
wealth redistribution, can be considered redistributive policies.

Case Study: The introduction of progressive taxation in Pakistan has contributed to

addressing income inequality, albeit with varying levels of success.
5. Capitalization Policies:
 Definition: These policies aim to leverage and capitalize on existing resources, assets, or opportunities for
economic development and growth.
 Example: The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is a capitalization policy, as it leverages
Pakistan's strategic location to attract foreign investment and stimulate economic growth.

Case Study: CPEC has played a significant role in infrastructure development, energy
projects, and the expansion of Pakistan's transportation network, promoting economic
growth and connectivity.
WHAT IS HUMAN
TRAFFICKING?

The United Nations defines:

"Human trafficking is the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harboring, or receipt
of persons by improper means such as force, abduction, fraud, or coercion for an
improper purpose including forced labor, sexual exploitation domestic servitude and
organ harvesting."
COMMON WAYS FOR LURING
VICTIMS

• A promise of a good job in another country

• A false marriage proposal turned into a bondage situation
• Being sold into sex trade by parents, husbands, boyfriends
• Being kidnapped by traffickers
TYPES OF HUMAN
TRAFFICKING

1. Sexual exploitation
2. Forced Labor
3. Domestic Servitude
4. Organ harvesting
5. Child soldiering
1) SEXUAL EXPLOITATION

Sexual exploitation involves any non-consensual or abusive sexual acts performed

without a victim's permission. This includes prostitution, escort work and
pornography.
Women, men and children of both sexes can be victims. Many will have been
deceived with promises of a better life and then controlled through violence and
abuse.
2) FORCED LABOR

Forced labor involves victims being compelled to work very long hours, often in
hard conditions. Forced labor crucially implies the use of coercion and lack of
freedom or choice for the victim.
In many cases victims are subjected to verbal threats or violence to achieve
compliance. Manufacturing, entertainment, travel, farming and construction
industries have been found to use forced labor by victims of human trafficking to
some extent.
3) DOMESTIC SERVITUDE

Domestic servitude involves the victim being forced to work in private households.
Their movement will often be restricted and they will be forced to perform
household tasks such as child care and house-keeping over long hours and for little if
any pay.
Victims will lead very isolated lives and have little or no unsupervised freedom.
Their own privacy and comfort will be minimal, often sleeping on a mattress on the
floor in an open part of the house.
In rare circumstances where victims receive a wage it will be heavily reduced, as
they are charged for food and accommodation
4)ORGAN HARVESTING

Trafficking in humans for the purpose of using their organs, in particular kidneys, is
a rapidly growing field of criminal activity.
In many countries, waiting lists for transplants are very long, and criminals have
seized this opportunity to exploit the desperation of patients and potential donors.
The health of victims, even their lives, is at risk as operations may be carried out in
clandestine conditions with no medical follow-up.
WHO ARE TRAFFICKED?

women and children are the key target group, because of their marginalization,
limited economic resources and predominance in the "invisible" informal sector

people from impoverished and low income households in rural areas and urban
slums, especially women engaged in small farming, petty trading, vending, as
laborers, scavengers and in other low status work and services

ethnic minorities, indigenous people, hill tribes, refugees, and illegal migrants
WHO ARE TRAFFICKED?

people with low levels of education, a few years of formal schooling, some primary
school education, or illiterate
young girls running away from home, or girls from families that expect their
daughters to financially contribute to their support are easy targets for traffickers
people who lack awareness of their legal rights, their exploited situation, and have
no channel for seeking redress
Women and children of varying ages, ranging from babies to women in their
seventies.
ELEMENTS OF WOMEN
TRAFFICKING
On the basis of the definition given in the Trafficking in Persons Protocol, it is evident that
trafficking in persons has three constituent elements;
 The Act (What is done)
Recruitment, transportation, transfer, harboring or receipt of persons
 The Means (How it is done)
Threat or use of force, coercion, abduction, fraud, deception, abuse of power or
vulnerability, or giving payments or benefits to a person in control of the victim
 The Purpose (Why it is done)
One of the forces driving trafficking in women is demand for their employment - be it
"voluntary" or "coerced" - in the sex industry;
Any of the women trafficked for work in the sex industry are subjected to human rights
abuses directly resulting from being trafficked;