A new World Bank report on fiscal federalism in Pakistan receives high marks for its technical quality but is deemed politically naive by experts. The report analyzes the country’s complex intergovernmental fiscal relations and proposes recommendations for improved resource distribution. While lauded for its thorough analysis of technical aspects—such as tax assignments and expenditure responsibilities—critics argue it underestimates the significant political obstacles to implementing its suggestions. Specifically, the report fails to adequately address Pakistan’s entrenched political dynamics and the resistance from powerful stakeholders to genuine fiscal devolution. Concerns are raised that the report's proposals, while sound in principle, are unlikely to be adopted without a more nuanced understanding of the country’s political landscape. The analysis suggests a need to better integrate political economy considerations into future technical assistance efforts related to fiscal federalism in Pakistan. Ultimately, experts believe a purely technical approach ignores the realities of power-sharing and provincial interests.