Journal of Public Policy Practitioners

Strategic Assessment of Evapotranspiration for Wheat Cultivation in Punjab, Pakistan

Syed Zaheer Hussain — 2025-06-30

The nation's main wheat producing area, namely the province of Punjab, is becoming progressively more susceptible to water constraints brought on by climate change, ineffective irrigation techniques, and inadequate management of water for agriculture. The lack of district-level evapotranspiration (ET) surveillance networks, which are necessary for developing an appropriate water policy, exacerbates these difficulties. The absence of geographically and statistically specified ET data for optimal irrigation planning during wheat farming is an important regulatory gap that this investigation covers. For the 2022-2023 season, the study evaluates ET throughout the five major phenological phases of wheat (sowing, tillering, flowering, grain filling, and harvesting), utilizing Sentinel-2 satellite images and Google Earth Engine. A vegetation-index-driven ET computational method is used to produce high-resolution maps and district-level evaluations that represent variations in water demand within and between seasons. The results show notable spatial differences between districts like Faisalabad and Bahawalpur, with ET peaking at the grain filling stage (~4.09mm/day) and falling during sowing (~1.95mm/day). Presenting a data driven framework for proportionate water distribution, regional irrigation zoning laws, and climate-resilient agrarian management, this study offers plenty to the larger legislative conversation. It makes the case that incorporating remote sensing into policies can improve the allocation of resources and productivity, two essential components of sustainable agriculture strategies in the face of increasing environmental stress.

Science Diplomacy and Realism

Omar Kauser Malik — 2025-06-30

Science diplomacy has attained significance as a non-traditional method of diplomacy. It encapsulates “diplomacy for science”, “science for diplomacy”, and “science in diplomacy” and has emerged as an important way to address global challenges and foster international cooperation. However, this has been done within the ambit of achieving national interest informed by the theoretical underpinnings of realism. In that regard, this qualitative research aimed to use the methodology of a structured literature review through which data has been collected by utilising authentic secondary sources in the form of books, peer-reviewed journal articles, and news sources. It has been understood that neoclassical realists consider economic security an important concern in addition to military power. This ties in with science diplomacy as realist thinking predicates on power and national interests in determining international relations, including the formation of alliances and rivalries in the pursuit of scientific knowledge. Furthermore, states can instrumentalise science diplomacy to advance their influence and national interests in the global arena. This, along with states acting to maximise their power, align with realism. The power maximisation can occur when national interest is secured and strengthened. The national interest can be augmented by utilising science as an effective foreign policy tool. This is because the current century's global challenges in climate change and food security require scientific innovation and research, which have opened up science diplomacy as a novel avenue for states to ensure their security and national interests.

Factors Affecting the Effectiveness of Youth Policy Implementation in North-Western, Ethiopia

Haile Dereje Gerbi — 2025-06-30

The effective youth policy implementation is highly important for the socio-economic well-being of young people. Various scholars have identified multiple factors that affect the effectiveness of policy implementation. However, few studies have specifically addressed the most determinate factors that affect the effectiveness of youth policy implementation. To fill the research gap, the study posed the central research question: "What factors mostly affect the effectiveness of youth policy implementation in North-Western Ethiopia?" The empirical investigation was based on an explanatory research design. The data were analyzed using both inferential and descriptive statistics. The study found that the implementation of youth policy was ineffective, with all policy-related factors failing to be effectively translated into practical action. The research further revealed that the rationality of the policy, the involvement of policy stakeholders, organizational factors, inter-organizational coordination, and adequate budget were statistically significant and largely determined the effectiveness of youth policy implementation in the order listed. Therefore, the study recommends that the government should give serious consideration to those factors that are applied at the regional, sub-city, and kebele levels. Lastly, it is important to conduct further longitudinal research using different theoretical models of youth policy implementation.

How to Broaden the Tax Base of the Excise and Taxation Department in Punjab

Sobia Malik — 2025-06-30

Broadening the tax base is crucial for ensuring fiscal sustainability in Punjab, where the Excise and Taxation Department manages key levies, including Property Tax, Motor Vehicles Tax, and Professional Tax, which collectively generate over 45% of the department’s total revenue. Despite digitization efforts—such as the computerization of the motor taxation system since 2007 and the property tax system since 2014—Punjab still collects only 40–50% of the potential property tax revenue due to outdated rental values, widespread exemptions, and unassessed units despite technological interventions like self-assessment of property units and imposition of DC rates. For instance, over 1.9 million, which is 30% of total urban property units, remain either under-assessed or exempt, eroding the revenue base by an estimated PKR 50 billion annually. Drawing on governance theory, the study combines recent tax collection trends, focused group discussions, semi-structured interviews with more than 30 key officials belonging to South Punjab, North Punjab and Central Punjab, document analysis. Comparative insights from India and Bangladesh show that digitization and public awareness campaigns can raise compliance by 15–20%, potentially adding billions to Punjab’s revenue. It also highlights how the lack of updated GIS mapping since 2013 has limited tax base expansion by failing to incorporate 15-20% of new properties each year. To address these gaps, the paper recommends strict enforcement of DC rate-based property valuations introduced in 2025, linking GIS with Urban immovable property tax (UIPT) systems to detect untaxed units in real time. Adopting advanced digital platforms for 100% e-payments, especially in remote districts and interdepartmental integration (PRA, PLRA, BoR and Finance), rationalization of exemptions, digital detection of unassessed/underassessed units in circles, zones, districts, division and all over Punjab. The findings emphasize that a broadened tax base could boost Punjab’s own-source revenue significantly, ensuring sustainable growth and better service delivery.

Prospects of Employment Generation & Industrial Production: A Study of Small-Scale Industries in Pakistan

Naveed ul Haq — 2025-06-30

The industrial sector is of great importance to the development of a country. Historically, countries with strong industrial sectors have experienced greater economic growth and development. In Pakistan, Punjab has done remarkably well in agriculture and has also made significant progress in industrialization by developing small, medium, and large-scale industries. Among these sectors, small-scale industries (SSIs) are pivotal in the overall added industrial value and employment generation. The significance of this sector can be assessed from the fact that it alone absorbs nearly 60% of the employment of the industrial sector and contributes about 58% of the overall industrial production of Punjab. In this regard, the present study examines the determinants of employment and industrial production in small-scale industries in Punjab, Pakistan. The study employed the firm’s level, cross-sectional data collected from a census of small and cottage industries of Punjab, carried out by Punjab Small Industries Corporation in collaboration with the Bureau of Statistics, Punjab, in the 36 districts of Punjab during 2011-13. To estimate the determinants of employment and industrial production, the two-stage least squares (2SLS) regression analysis and structural equation modelling (SEM) analysis techniques have been used. The empirical findings are beneficial in identifying the significance of each determinant for better industrial production and employment generation in Punjab. Moreover, the policy implications have also been suggested based on empirical findings.

Between Manifestos and Reality: Assessing Pakistan's Local Governance Challenges and Reform Pathways

Saad Ali Ahmed Malik — 2025-06-30

The study analyzes the local governance system of Pakistan with a broader focus on constitutional frameworks, political manifestos, and implementation challenges. Through analysis of party manifestos pre and post 18th amendment, constitutional provisions that include 18th amendment and Article 140-A, and provincial local government acts, the study reveals a serious gap between policy intent and the actual implementation. The research outlines significant challenges including lack of financial autonomy, political interference, and weak institutional capacity. The study puts forward reforms to strengthen local democracy by constitutional amendments, empowering the Election Commission of Pakistan, improving financing mechanisms including district finance commissions, and bridging the gap between provinces and the local governments. The findings of the study contribute to a better understanding of the systemic issues of local governance in Pakistan and offers a practical call for reforms.