Candles in the Dark ─ Successful Organizations in Pakistan's Weak Constitutional Environment

This book explains how some entities can survive and flourish in an institutional environment that is both fragile and hostile. Despite daunting odds, some institutions have managed to succeed and effectively deliver core services, earn legitimacy in the eyes of the citizenry, and forge resilience in the face of an otherwise tumultuous and prohibitive operational context. A review of some case studies demonstrates that it is possible for a society such as Pakistan's to have effective organizations even in the face of a dismal overall picture. Nine Pakistani institutions from the public and private sector, which are generally regarded as successful have been selected for the purpose of this research. These are: Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS), Institute of Business Administration (IBA), Motorway Police, Benazir Income Support Program (BISP), National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA), Punjab Education Foundation, Edhi Foundation, Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital, and Rescue 1122.

Mahmood Ayub,Turab Hussain

Mahmood A. Ayub has worked with the World Bank for 30 years, and has over 35 years of experience in economics, development and operations. He has been a senior manager with both the World Bank and the United Nations, with extensive experience on countries in the Middle East, North Africa, Africa, Latin America, and Central Asia. He has published widely on economic development issues. Dr Ayub currently works as an economic policy consultant.

Syed Turab Hussain is an Associate Professor and Chair of the Economics Department at the Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS). Dr Hussain did his Masters and PhD from the University of Essex and has 18 years of teaching experience. His research interests range from migration, trade and development to industrial organization and policy. Dr Hussain has also worked on various government policy issues and projects such as regional trade, provincial growth strategies, industrial policy and dispute settlement under WTO.