One-man show: Sindh’s super CM single-handedly controls the province’s affairs

The CM heads over a dozen boards of authorities, dealing with everything from education to waste management.

KARACHI:

Ever since the promulgation of the 18th Amendment, the devolution of powers at the grass-roots level has been a major source of contention between the federal and provincial governments. The latter frequently waves about the Constitution, demanding powers be devolved to it. What is ironic, however, is that when it comes to its own powers, the provincial government is reluctant to delegate them at the district level. 

A distinct example of this hypocritical attitude can be seen in the form of the powers of authorities and boards that have been put under the control of the chief minister. After being in charge of 15 different  departments, the chief minister of Sindh currently chairs more than a dozen boards of directors and competent bodies that make the policies and run the boards’ affairs.



The boards given under the CM’s control through legislation passed in the Sindh Assembly include the Sindh Higher Education Commission, the Sindh Waste Management Board, Sindh Building Control Authority, High Density Development Board, Education City and other public-private partnership boards.

“It is the responsibility of the district governments to collect and manage solid and other forms of waste. The mayors of the corporations are supposed to look after it, but this authority has also been given to the chief minister,” remarked the opposition leader in Sindh Assembly, Faisal Subzwari. He was of the opinion that the move was a violation of article 140-A, which bound the government to delegate powers to the grass roots level. “If municipal services are handed over to the chief minister, what will be the responsibility of the local governments?” he asked.

Another member of the opposition, Imtiaz Shaikh, objected to the appointment of the chief minister as chairperson of the high density board. The board is responsible for identifying and earmarking  the high density zones. “The CM already has 15 different portfolios, coupled with authorities of more than one dozen different government and semi-government boards. He must surrender this kind of power, for it is the job of the district government to deal with civic issues,” he said.  During the passage of this particular bill (the high density bill), MQM had raised a hue and cry after the name of the Sindh governor (who was earlier working as co-chairperson of the board) was omitted and the CM was made its chairperson.

On the other hand, the minister for parliamentary affairs, Dr Sikandar Mandhro, defended his government’s decisions. “In the last 10 years, the district governments have created a mess in the whole province. Everyone can see the piled-up garbage lying on the roads. This board, under the supervision of the chief minister, will make arrangements for effective delivery of sanitation services,” he hoped, adding that there was nothing wrong with handing over the boards to the CM. “He is, after all, the chief executive of the province.”

Other opposition members affiliated with the Pakistan Muslim League - Nawaz and the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf stressed that the CM should delegate the extra responsibilities to grass roots level. “From the home ministry to the health department, the CM alone holds a large number of important portfolios. He cannot handle this multi-tasking,” PML-N’s Irfanullah Marwat told The Express Tribune. His counterpart from PTI, MPA Hafeezuddin Ahmed, concurred. He demanded that the CM appoint ministers of the relevant departments as chairpersons of the board of directors and let them work without any interference. 

Boards under the CM’s control:

Sindh Higher Education Commission (Controlling authority)

Sindh Solid Waste Management Board (Chairperson)

Sindh Building Control Authority (Controlling authority)

Lakhra Coal Development Company (Chairperson)

Thar Coal Authority (Chairperson)

Sindh Coal Energy Board (Chairperson)

High Density Development Board (Chairperson)

Sindh Environmental Protection Council (Chairperson)

Sindh Fund Management House (Chairperson)

Education City Board (Chairperson)

Various public-private partnership boards

Published in The Express Tribune, March 19^th, 2014.