State, Government and Civil Society

To manage a country efficiently and prevent any single person from gaining too much power, the modern state divides its responsibilities. In Pakistan, the government structure is based on the principle of the "Separation of Powers," which divides the government into three main branches:

A. The Legislature (Law-Making Body) The Legislature in Pakistan is called the Parliament (Majlis-e-Shoora). It consists of two houses: the National Assembly and the Senate.

• Function: Its primary job is to debate public issues, create new laws, and update old ones to fit the changing needs of society. It also approves the country’s national budget.

B. The Executive (Implementation Body) The Executive branch consists of the Prime Minister, the Cabinet of Ministers, and the civil bureaucracy (government departments).

• Function: This branch is responsible for running the daily affairs of the country. It implements and enforces the laws made by the Parliament. For example, if the Parliament passes a law to improve higher education, the Executive branch (Ministry of Education) builds the universities and hires the teachers.

C. The Judiciary (Justice and Interpretation Body) The Judiciary includes the Supreme Court, High Courts, and lower district courts.

• Function: Its main role is to interpret the law and provide justice. It ensures that the laws passed by the Parliament do not violate the Constitution. The Judiciary also protects the fundamental rights of citizens against any misuse of power by the Executive branch.