Pleas for setting up CCI secretariat ignored

Provinces see it as a question mark on devolution of power

ISLAMABAD: Successive governments have been delaying the establishment of an independent secretariat for the Council of Common Interests (CCI). Even though the provinces continue to face problems about regulatory authorities it has still not been established.

Under the Constitution, the government of Pakistan is bound to establish a permanent secretariat of the CCI with equal representation of the four provinces. The instruction has been clearly listed under Clause (3) of Article 154 of the 1973 Constitution.

The governments’ reluctance in not implementing its constitutional obligation has frustrated the provinces. They argue that the secretariat should be established so that the provinces can deal with it rather than the federal government over issues. They also say that this still makes them deal with the centre even after devolution.

This has been constantly written by the provincial governments since 2010 shown in the correspondence accessed by The Express Tribune between the Prime Minister’s office and the Ministry of Inter Provincial Coordination (IPC).

For the first time it was in 1991 when the CCI ‘in principle decided to have a separate secretariat in Islamabad’. Since then, no government has taken the recommendations of the secretariat seriously. The Express Tribune has also learnt that when the summaries are sent to the PM’s office it attaches an objection to the summary recommendations, causing further delays.

In the latest summary sent to the PM’s office on July 14, the Ministry of IPC has suggested retaining the ministry and renaming it as ‘Ministry of IPC and CCI Secretariat’. It also requests that the CCI Secretariat and all the subjects of federal regulatory authorities may be transferred to the ministry.

“Besides, it has been noticed that issued raised by provinces are mostly related to regulatory authorities like Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority, Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority, National Electric Power Regulatory Authority and Pakistan Telecommunication Authority,” the summary to the PM states.

It also adds that since these authorities are under the cabinet and Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, the Ministry of IPC is unable to perform efficiently. The summary alleges that due to this conflict IPC is unable to perform its responsibilities effectively. It also states that the process is being prolonged.

Outward pressure

Senate members in a resolution passed on May 23 demanded the establishment of a secretariat within a period of two months. However, the Senate’s Functional Committee on Devolution last week also recommended that the decision to establish the secretariat must be made within 15 days. The government has not paid attention to either the resolution or the committee’s recommendation so far.

An official belonging to the IPC, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, agreed with the ministry’s stance and blamed the government’s intransigence in not dealing with the issue. He also revealed that subjects which would fall in CCI’s domain included railways, mineral oil, natural gas, heavy industries, water and power development authority etc.  “But the government seems least interested in handing it over to us as it fears the cabinet will be left with nothing” he said.

The issue has also ended up in the in the Sindh High Court through petitions. They say that not establishing the secretariat has led to an encroachment of the federal government and cabinet upon the domain of the CCI.

Meanwhile, Joint Secretary Khayal Zad at the ministry of IPC stated that establishing the secretariat is the decision that the government has to make. He further said that they had sent a summary to the prime minister and cabinet, and are waiting for a final decision on the matter.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 24^th, 2016.