Pakistan’s proposed 27th Amendment, if passed, could offer indirect but tangible benefits to the “common man”—ordinary citizens grappling with daily struggles like delayed justice, poor education, and erratic local services. However, these gains hinge on effective implementation and are overshadowed by risks of centralisation that might not reach the grassroots. Drawing from government rationale and expert analyses, here’s a balanced look at how everyday Pakistanis (farmers, labourers, urban commuters) might see upsides, even if the reforms prioritise institutional efficiency over immediate relief.
1. Faster and More Accessible Justice
The creation of a dedicated Federal Constitutional Court would offload high-profile constitutional cases (e.g., election disputes or federal-provincial rows) from the Supreme Court, which currently handles over 2.5 million pending cases nationwide. This could free up judicial bandwidth for routine matters like land disputes or family law—issues that drag on for years, costing ordinary people time and bribes.
* Restoring executive magistrates: At the district level, these officials (scrapped in 2001) would handle minor criminal and administrative cases, like petty thefts or licensing, bypassing clogged courts. Proponents estimate this could resolve 30% of local disputes within weeks, reducing the need for travel to distant high courts and lowering legal fees for low-income families.
* Real-world impact: A Karachi shopkeeper or Lahore farmer could get a quick resolution on a property row, saving livelihoods instead of waiting a decade.
2. Improved Education and Population Management
* Re-centralising education and population welfare under federal control (reversing the 18th Amendment’s devolution) would enable a uniform national curriculum and standardised teacher training. With Pakistan’s literacy rate stuck at 62% and stark provincial gaps (e.g., Balochistan at 46% vs. Punjab’s 66%), this could standardise quality, making schools more effective for millions of underprivileged kids.
* Population angle: Coordinated family-planning programmes might curb the 2.4% annual growth rate, easing pressure on resources like jobs and healthcare. Families in rural Sindh or Khyber Pakhtunkhwa could access better contraception and awareness, potentially reducing household poverty.
* Real-world impact: A daily-wage worker’s child might graduate with skills for urban jobs, breaking generational poverty cycles.
3. Stronger Local Governance and Services
* Punjab’s push for constitutional protections on local elections and budgets would mandate timely polls and fund allocations, preventing provincial governments from dissolving councils mid-term. This empowers union councils to fix roads, water supply, and waste management without elite interference—core issues for urban poor in cities like Multan or Faisalabad.
* Broader fiscal flexibility: Scrapping fixed provincial shares in the National Finance Commission (NFC) Award could let the centre redirect funds to national priorities like debt relief ($130 billion external debt) or infrastructure, indirectly stabilising prices and creating jobs via projects. 6 7
* Real-world impact: A villager in rural Punjab gets pothole-free roads sooner, or a small trader benefits from reliable electricity grids funded centrally.
The Caveats: Why Benefits Might Not Trickle Down
While these changes sound promising, critics argue they’re elite-driven. The amendment risks eroding provincial autonomy (hard-won via the 18th Amendment), potentially sparking unrest that disrupts daily life. Judicial tweaks could politicise courts, delaying reforms further, and recentralisation might favour federal cronies over local needs. As PTI’s Asad Qaiser noted, it’s “disfiguring the Constitution” without public input. No widespread public discourse exists yet on direct benefits, per recent reports.
In essence—the common man could benefit through quicker justice, better schools, and empowered localities, fostering a more efficient state. But success depends on accountability, not just passage.
