Devolution Plan in Pakistan: A Case Study of Abbottabad: Empowerment at Grass-Root Level through Community Participation

This research paper investigates the proposition of the essential development of devolution process, and with the process of decentralization, the contribution of the general public in the government functions increases. The detailed study of the Local Ordinance 2000 gives the idea of presenting powers and authorities to the lower levels. The enhancing competitiveness of Pakistan would largely depend upon the quality of governance and management structures deployed to implement it. Devolution Plan (2000) intended to strengthen the democratic institutions and to empower the people at the grassroots by providing them authority to identify and implement their own need based projects. It was urged that the Plan would increase access of marginalized groups in society to politics, enhance participation of ordinary citizens both in politics as well as the delivery of services, enhance accountability of the government functionaries as well as elected members and improve the delivery of social services. In Devolution plan 2000, an initiative has been taken by establishing Citizen Community Boards (CCB’s) to improve local people participation.