All provinces have equal representation in CCI, which is aimed at settling issues of national importance. PHOTO: FILE
The Senate standing committee on inter-provincial coordination will meet on November 5 to discuss the challenges faced by the Council of Common Interests (CCI) in addressing the national issues.
The meeting is scheduled to discuss the issues of CCI which are still pending, as the meeting of the national forum has not been held for quite some time. All provinces have equal representation in CCI, which is aimed at settling issues of national importance
Committee chairperson Senator Farah Aqil while talking to The Express Tribune said that the committee is facing difficulties in settling different issues related to various provinces. “We are told every time that these issues could be discussed and settled in CCI, but CCI meets seldom,” said Farah.
The committee will examine the challenges faced by CCI and the reason behind the delays in holding its meeting, said Farah. We will also pass some recommendations in this regard, she added.
The senator said presently CCI has pending issues relating to conducting census, which has not been conducted since 1998. “The country should have a fresh census so that we can make various national policies accordingly,” she maintained.
Besides, the senator said many issues still need settlement after devolution of some key ministries and departments from Centre to provinces under the 18th Constitutional Amendment. “There is confusion regarding most of such devolved subjects including health, education, and tourism,” she asserted.
Farah cited that the assets of PTDC motels are still with Centre whereas the subject has been devolved to the provinces. Besides, she said after the subject of health and education, now various health related programmes including polio, Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI) have also been devolved to provinces and the controversy related to the assents of some these departments still need to be settled.
“All these issues will be discussed in the coming meeting and the authorities will be asked to take necessary decisions “, Farah maintained.
The last meeting CCI held in July was chaired by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif for the first time, which had approved bailout package from IMF and the National Energy Policy. The previous government was able to hold only three CCI meetings and it was the reasons that most of the issues could not be settled following the devolution of various subjects from Centre to provinces.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 3rd, 2013.
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