‘Political parties can expand support base by adopting good policies’
By Asim Hussain

ISLAMABAD—Political parties can expand their support base by embedding policy development in party structures and adopting good policies, Douglas McArthur, international public policy expert and Professor of Public Policy at Simon Fraser University in Canada said here on Friday..
He was speaking at a multi-party roundtable discussion on Institutionalizing Party Policy Development, arranged by the Centre for Civic Education Pakistan in Collaboration with the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs under the USAID funded Political Party Development Program.
Leaders of Pakistan Peoples Party, Pakistan Muslim League (N), Jamaat-e-Islami, and the Pakistan Muslim League (Q) attended the roundtable discussion. Ms. Sheila Fruman, NDI country director, also spoke on the occasion. Bruce Toombs, NDI senior resident program manager, was also present.
Prof. McArthur said the basis of democracy is that political parties offer policy choices and voters choose parties in order to get the policies they want. Elections are an opportunity for citizens to give popular consent to policies offered by the parties, largely as communicated through their manifestos, he added. It is the responsibility of the party to provide voters with complete information about what the party will represent after the election, whether in government or opposition.
He said a good policy development process must be institutionalized within the overall processes of the Party. “The process needs to be embedded within the political party,” he went on. Prof. McArthur said a good policy process should include effective direction and oversight by party leaders, a clear and strong commitment to the process by the Party and its leaders, disciplined internal management, a defined structure to organize and lead policy development and effective use of committees and sub-committees.
“Good policy requires good information, good research, good analysis and input, and plenty of debate and good judgment. The quality of the process affects the quality of the policy,” Prof. Douglas McArthur said.
Professor McArthur said in order to develop good policy a policy committee should review problems and priorities with grass roots party members and activists, obtain expert advice and research, consult with groups and informed people, undertake analysis and prepare policy papers.
He said good policies can advance the fortunes of political parties because they increase the credibility of a party, improve its electoral appeal, expand its support base, give structure to party communications and enhance the ability to govern when elected.
Mr. Douglas McArthur’s lecture was followed by interactive discussion during which political leaders shared with how parties work to develop policies and manifestos in Pakistan. They also discussed the challenges political parties have been faced with in the country for the last several years.