Development Evaluation in the Public Sector Projects and Programs in Pakistan: An Analysis of Prevailing Issues and Constraints

Abstract

Pakistan, as a developing country, is passing through one of the toughest times in its history. The situation is alarming, as the country is faced head on with multiple and serious challenges including war on terror, natural calamities, poor infrastructure, increasing poverty, scarce energy resources, environmental degradation, unemployment, and poor education and health systems and so on. The scale of social and economic issues renders the development process more complex and cumbersome. Given the difficult conditions, the state is confronted with the daunting challenge of developing the underdeveloped and especially the vulnerable segments of society. The country’s developmental agenda is driven either through the meager public sector budgetary allocations or by donor-funded development and humanitarian projects and programs. However, despite years of efforts, the socio-economic conditions of the downtrodden remain unchanged and the situation is further deteriorating, rendering the development process ineffective and inefficient. Among many other factors, lack of effective monitoring, evaluation, accountability and feedback mechanisms has been largely responsible for hampering the efficiency and effectiveness of these developmental interventions.