Devolution of ministries: ICT division established

Various federal departments handed to new division, notification issued.

ISLAMABAD:

In a notification issued by the Ministry of Inter-Provincial Coordination on Sunday, Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) was given the status of a division. Most of the federal departments were given to the new division, which will function under the supervision of the cabinet division. Some departments were given to provinces.

The departments given to the newly established ICT division include: Ministry of Education, Department of Libraries, Federal College of Education, Academy of Education, Planning and Management, Polytechnic Institute for Women, National Institute of Science and Technical Education, Federal Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education and National Education Assessment Centre, Islamabad.

According to the notification, the National Education Equipment Centre, Lahore and National Museum of Science and Technology, Lahore were both handed to the Punjab government. Pakistan Academy of Letters was handed over to the cabinet division, while Urdu Science Board, Lahore, National Book Foundation and Urdu Dictionary Board, Karachi were merged with the National Language Authority under the cabinet division. Inter-Board Committee of Chairmen were handed over to the Inter-Provincial Division, Islamabad.

Dawood College of Engineering and Technology, Karachi and Sindh Madrasa, Karachi were given to the Sindh Government. Pakistan National Commission for UNESCO was given to Economic Affairs Division, while the National College of Arts, Lahore and Rawalpindi were handed over to the Interprovincial Coordination division.

Pakistan Chairs Abroad, Centres of Excellence, Area Study Centres, Pakistan Study Centres, Sheikh Zayed Islamic Centres were handed over to the respective universities and would remain under the cabinet division’s supervision. Lastly, Private Educational Institutions Regulatory Authority was handed to the newly established ICT division.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 4^th,  2011.