A. F. Aisha Ghaus, Hafiz A. Pasha, and Zafar H. Ismail (eds) Provincial Governments and the Social Sectors in Pakistan. Lahore: Vanguard Books (Pvt.) Ltd., 1997. xi+76 pages. Hardbound. Price not given.

In Pakistan, most of the media attention and research effort directed at public finance goes into highlighting and analysing budgetary policies of the federal government. This virtually exclusive focus on the highest tier of government obscures the fact that provision of social services like health and education that directly touch the life of millions of ordinary mortals is primarily the responsibility of the provincial governments. The haze, hence generated, provides a perfect backdrop for the book under review which is devoted entirely to the study of provincial government finance with special reference to its impact on the maintenance and expansion of social services