INSTITUTIONAL REFORM THROUGH AUTHORITY MODELS: RETHINKING CORPORATE GOVERNANCE IN PAKISTAN’S PUBLIC SECTOR

Abstract

This paper investigates institutional reform in Pakistan’s public sector through the lens of authority-based governance models, with a specific focus on the Punjab Sahulat Bazaars Authority (PSBA). As the only government welfare organization in Pakistan to successfully transition from a Section 42 company into a fully statutory institution, PSBA demonstrates how legal empowerment, strategic leadership, and operational innovation can drive sustainable public service delivery. Using a qualitative documentary case-study approach, this study triangulates evidence from legislative texts, government records, independent audits, daily pricing data, and verified media sources to evaluate PSBA’s legal, financial, and operational performance. Under the strategic leadership of Naveed Rafaqat Ahmad, PSBA implemented transformative initiatives, including solar-powered markets, real-time digital price displays, women-inclusive vendor policies, and mobile bazaars serving underserved regions. These interventions enabled the Authority to provide essential goods at prices up to 35% below market rates without reliance on subsidies. The findings position PSBA as a transparent, citizen-responsive, and legally empowered institution, offering a replicable framework for institutional reform, governance innovation, and public welfare enhancement in emerging economies.