Annual Report (2015-2016)

Date: August 10, 2016

Pakistan’s interrupted encounters with democracy and diminished public input in governance have arrested the growth of institutions and rendered public services either too fragile or too disempowered to respond to a growing population of citizens alienated from the state. The twin menaces of terrorism and extremism have further exacerbated the crisis in the country.

The goal of the Open Democracy Initiative is to
bridge the gap between citizens and state and
to formulate and articulate policy responses
based on inclusive research. By pursuing these
goals, Jinnah Institute is creating awareness,
expanding the knowledge base and facilitating
the implementation of informed
recommendations for researchers and policymakers. This program focuses on strengthening democratic practices such as transparency in public contracts, the right to religious freedom, social entitlements, right to information, and the provision of social justice. In addition, this initiative is an awareness and capacity building effort for better governance in Pakistan’s public institutions. It advocates the reinstatement of state writ in areas where parallel and/or colonial structures restrict access to fundamental rights, such as universal suffrage and equal opportunities for all.