Federal govt told to abolish or devolve 18 ministries, reconstitute CCI: Senate committee

ISLAMABAD: The Senate sub-committee on implementation of the 18th Constitutional Amendment has directed the federal government to abolish or devolve 18 ministries and their subordinate institutions to the provinces, reconstitute the Council of Common Interests (CCI), and submit details of government advertisements released to newspapers and television channels over the last three years.

The meeting was chaired by Senator Barrister Zamir Hussain Ghumro and attended by Senators Poonjo Bheel and Jan Muhammad Buledi, along with senior officials of the relevant ministries and institutions. The committee reviewed implementation of the 18th Constitutional Amendment, downsizing of the federal government and the constitutional role of the CCI.

The committee directed that ministries, divisions and institutions dealing with subjects constitutionally falling within the provincial domain or the jurisdiction of the CCI should either be abolished or devolved to the provinces. It clarified that the process should not adversely affect the interests of government employees.

The ministries and institutions discussed by the committee included Health, Education, National Food Security, Water Resources, Climate Change, Housing, Special Initiatives, Culture and Heritage, Evacuee Trust Board, Zakat and Ushr, Naya Pakistan Housing Authority, EOBI, Narcotics, Police Service, PMDC, Korangi Fish Harbour, Press Information Department, Railways, Industries, Statistics, Petroleum, Inter-Provincial Coordination, Planning and Development and WAPDA, among others.

Regarding the CCI, the committee said matters included in Part II of the Federal Legislative List fall under the jurisdiction of the Council of Common Interests under Article 154 of the Constitution and should therefore not be dealt with by the federal cabinet.

The committee directed the prime minister to place relevant matters before the CCI and ensure that its meetings are held regularly. It also called for the reconstitution of the CCI to ensure equal representation and protection of the interests of all provinces.

The committee further directed that matters relating to the prices of electricity, petroleum, gas and medicines should be dealt with by the CCI in accordance with the constitutional framework.

On the proposed privatisation of electricity distribution companies, the committee directed that the matter concerning IESCO, FESCO, LESCO, GEPCO, SEPCO and HESCO should be referred to the CCI and that the process should not proceed without the council’s approval.

In the media sector, the committee directed that matters relating to the regulation of print media should be devolved to the provinces. It also sought from the Ministry of Information complete details of government advertisements released to newspapers and television channels during the past three years.

The committee expressed concern over the use of government advertisements as a means of exerting pressure on media organisations and stressed the need for transparency in the distribution of advertisements.

The committee gave the federal government 15 days to make the necessary amendments to its Rules of Business and submit a compliance report to the Senate sub-committee.