Public service has remained key to the achievement of national economic and social goals across the world. There is sufficient evidence to suggest that capable and motivated bureaucracy has played an instrumental role in economic growth and overall prosperity. The way Britain became a dominant economy in the 18th century, especially militarily, is attributed to its competent and efficient public administration to raise taxes. The UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) also recognizes the important role that state institutions play to achieve these goals. Goal 16 of the SDGs focuses especially on building institutions that are accountable, inclusive and characterized by representative decision making.

Escaping the Inequality Trap: One of the world's great achievements of the past decades is the significant fall in global poverty. Between 1990 and 2012 the proportion of humanity living under USD 1.90 a day fell by more than one billion people, driven in a large part by China's efforts. Despite this tremendous achievement, income inequality has increased both within and across countries. Today, 16 percent of the global population earns 55 percent of its income, while 72 percent of the world's poor account for just over one percent of wealth.

The world continues to confront significant threats from extremist groups resorting to violent means to advance their agenda–be it ideological, religious or political. The kidnapping of school girls, the brutal murder of innocent civilians or the bombing of cultural and religious places are used by extremists to terrorize, expand their grip on territory, control resources and illegal trade or compel states in adopting some of their agendas.

Integration of FATA: now is the time - The Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) are at the forefront of public attention and this time for mostly good reasons. The ongoing military operation has delivered against violent groups contributing to a substantial reduction of violence in the country during the last year – up to 50% according to data from the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies. Internal displacement caused by the operation swelled to 302 thousand families but since then 36% have returned home and more are expected soon.

These days, Pakistan has a reason to celebrate. It is the fifth anniversary of its 18th constitutional amendment. But is it just an amendment or a constitutional revolution? Only two years after the end of military rule the country deconstructed its state order and reinvented provincial autonomy under a federal roof. With the 18th amendment, Pakistan has given itself in April 2010, a contemporary, democratic and federal state order, which allows the country to build decentralized and local government structures. Now, five years after the amendment, it is possible to hold democratic elections at the federal, provincial and local levels and provides an unprecedented opportunity for Pakistan to consolidate its democracy after the centrist regime.