SUNDAY FEBRUARY 19: Pakistan Framework for Economic Growth: PCP wants to set up RBM for effective implementation

ISLAMABAD: Planning Commission of Pakistan wants to establish Result Based Management (RBM) for effective and efficient implementation of Pakistan Framework for Economic Growth (FEG) by federal, provincial and local governments taking on board all the stakeholders from private sectors.
According to document made available to Business Recorder, the RBM is a management tool which would focus on; a broad management strategy aimed at changing the way agencies operate, with improving performance, achieving results as the central orientation. The RBM depends on: clarity of goals and targets including adequacy of resources to help achieve results and effective institutional structures and arrangements.
The establishment and implementation will be carried out by the federal, provincial and local governments in collaboration with all stakeholders from the private sector, academia, civil society, media and development partners. About national development objectives, the Planning Commission recommended that national development target be specified in terms of concrete and monitor-able outcomes and national polices should adjust to focus on the achievement of national development targets and clearly to communicate at all levels of the government as well as stakeholders and public.
Similarly, about budgets on federal and provincial level, it should be developed with and integral and strong link to the national goals and targets. Budgetary allocations to the federal, provincial and local governments and agencies is based on specific 'output' to be delivered, and these are in turn linked to the national priority development goals and targets. Planned budget allocations are sufficient to meet agreed targets and cash release should be timely and matches approved budget. Budget flexibility should be there if problems arise with cash release and target change.
It is also recommended that Public Sector Development Program (PSDP) should be clearly linked to the achievement of national development goals and targets. Existence of open negotiation processes on budget allocations and target should take account of the specific conditions in each province/local government area and process exits for an appropriate mix of salary and operational spending to meet targets. Processes should allow the province and local governments to vary salary and operational spending to meet targets.
About organisational arrangements, the Planning Commission recommended that accountability of each department and level of government should be documented and available for public information. Organisational arrangements should be allowed for adequate delegation and decentralization of authority to facilitate effective service to the people. Within each department or organisation, there should be clear specifications of accountability at each level and for each position. It is also recommended that staff appointment and promotion process should sufficiently base on job performance. Senior officials and political leadership should openly support the setting of targets and measuring performance.
About the performance and accountability, federal government reports on national performance against development targets should be presented in the cabinet and parliament each year. Sector agencies, PSEs and local government report to the provincial/federal government about their respective performance against targets. The Planning Commission also recommended that performance should be reported in terms of output and outcome achieved and not just budget expenditure and activities.