Policy Capacity in India and Pakistan: Knowledge Meshworks in Public Policy

Presented on Dec 06, Panel Session 1.4 - Policy Implementation: Role of Middle-level Public Institutions

Policy capacity refers to a government's effectiveness in formulating and implementing public policies, leveraging ideational systems, skills, resources, and institutional arrangements (Wu et al., 2015). In India and Pakistan, pivotal to this process are the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) and Pakistan Administrative Service (PAS) officers, who integrate diverse knowledge sources to shape policies. This capacity encompasses analytical prowess, access to pertinent information, institutional processes, and adaptability to emerging challenges at personal, organisational, and systemic levels. Knott and Wildavsky (1980) distinguish between knowledge and information, defining knowledge as a definitive statement and information as an educated guess. This knowledge underpins data-driven policy analysis, contributing to sector-specific insights crucial for bureaucratic, political, economic, and social reforms. Sabatier (1988) emphasises the role of strategic interactions among elites, ideological beliefs, environmental shifts, and policy-oriented learning in policy formulation. The dynamic knowledge exchange among bureaucrats, politicians, and third-sector actors is central to policy capacity. This study investigates these dynamics, focusing on IAS and PAS officers. Conceptually, it examines knowledge within epistemic communities, exploring relationships between these officers and stakeholders in policy research, advocacy, and policymaking. Empirically, it analyses case studies from the health sectors of India and Pakistan, highlighting the pivotal role of IAS and PAS officers in driving substantial policy reforms. This exploratory paper utilises policy documents and interviews to develop a comparative understanding of knowledge typologies influencing health sector policy changes in both countries.