Devolution upshot: Minister raises spectre of food security

Zehri says food ministry devolution is not a good idea .


Express June 03, 2011

ISLAMABAD:


Devolving the ministry will have serious food security repercussions, said minister for food and agriculture Mir Israrullah Zehri on Thursday, urging the government not to hand over the ministry to the provinces.


“Pakistan will be the first country among the existing 192 member countries of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) that will not head its food and agriculture ministry at the centre,” he said while briefing the parliamentary commission on the implementation of the 18th Amendment.

The parliamentary commission, all set to devolve the ministry to the provinces, discussed various functions of his ministry.

“We have prepared a draft for the implementation commission about keeping the ministry with the centre, and have conveyed our concerns to its chairman Senator Raza Rabbani,” said Zehri, while talking to the media at his office.

The National Agriculture Research Centre (NARC) wants to take over the 1,430 acres of land that currently falls under the ministry of agriculture, he added.

Zehri told the media that Senator Wasim Sajjad, a newly-appointed member of the multi-party commission dealing with the devolution process, supported his stance. However, the minister agreed on devolving some departments of the ministry to the provinces, which he believed would allow the ministry to function smoothly.

Earlier, Minister for Religious Affairs Khurshid Shah urged the government to retain the ministry for labour and manpower with the centre, saying that its devolution could pose serious challenges for labourers. He recommended bifurcating the ministry if necessary. Senator Rabbani, after concluding the meeting, told reporters that members of the commission would consider the ministry’s recommendations during an informal meeting to be held on Friday (today).

The nine-member multi-party commission, all set to complete the devolution process by the end of this month, was also briefed by officials of the ministry for minority affairs.

The commission has already devolved 10 ministries in
two phases.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 3rd, 2011.

COMMENTS (1)

sadiq | 12 years ago | Reply This is pity. why we cant trust on provinces. On one hand we claim to be a democratic government and country. on the other hand we are not ready to follow the constitution in its letter and spirit. There is no harm for devolution of the MINFA. The provinces must be empowered and trusted upon who could make it worth to run affairs of their respective ministries. A large piece of land lying under minfa at NARC Chakshehazad is solely being used for organizational politics. Nothing is being done over there except leg pulling and politics. Its better that NARC land may also be given under some provinces who could better utilize this.
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