Few would have anticipated that performance monitoring in Pakistan’s federal government would ever be backed by a document this comprehensive, but the recently released “Performance Monitoring Report 2023-24” offers a rare glimpse into what ministries and divisions are actually delivering — or not delivering — against their stated goals. The report, compiled by the Prime Minister’s Office, captures performance data across 52 federal ministries and divisions and aims to introduce transparency and accountability into the heart of public service delivery.
Tracking Deliverables, Not Just Spending
Unlike conventional budget reports that focus purely on expenditures, this performance report documents specific initiatives and their implementation status. Ministries submitted 4,631 initiatives, of which 2,280 were marked for evaluation. These initiatives were then classified into categories: policy, development, reform, and administrative, covering thematic areas such as governance, energy, education, and digital innovation. According to the report, 55% of the evaluated initiatives were ‘on track’, 24% ‘completed’, and 21% were either delayed or dropped.
This classification allows the government not just to assess which projects are consuming resources but also to monitor progress against timelines and quality benchmarks — a critical shift in the performance culture of federal institutions.
Top Performers and Missed Opportunities
Among the top-performing ministries listed were the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication, Ministry of Commerce, and Ministry of Climate Change. These entities showed high scores on timely initiative completion and strategic alignment with national priorities. On the flip side, certain ministries underperformed significantly — not because they lacked initiatives, but because of vague deliverables, delayed starts, or poor coordination.
The report presents a performance heatmap, which identifies performance gaps and suggests corrective measures. For example, digital transformation projects in some ministries were marked ‘slow-moving’ due to procurement lags or insufficient human resources.
Embedding Accountability in Bureaucracy
The most noteworthy contribution of this report lies in its attempt to embed a system of accountability within the federal structure. Ministries are now expected to align annual goals with national policy objectives and will be periodically evaluated. Performance reviews are expected to be linked with future planning and budgetary allocations — a clear departure from traditional input-based planning.
What’s Missing and What’s Next?
Despite its ambition, the report still lacks integration with outcome-based indicators. While many initiatives are tracked for implementation, few are assessed for their impact on citizens. For example, while the Ministry of Health reported progress on infrastructure upgrades, there was no discussion on how these improvements translated into better health outcomes.
Secondly, while the report provides numeric progress indicators, it lacks visual dashboards or comparative league tables, which could significantly enhance usability and interpretation for non-expert readers. Incorporating third-party audits or citizen feedback on key services would also deepen its credibility.
Overall, the Performance Monitoring Report 2023-24 represents a foundational step toward institutional accountability in Pakistan’s federal administration. It introduces a structured framework for evaluating public sector performance and opens the door for more transparent governance mechanisms.
This article was published on Publicfinance.pk.
