Post-18th Amendment: Scramble for control sees no end

CADD, ICT, CDA, Cabinet Division, health, education, interior ministries looking to retain, extend influence.

ISLAMABAD:

The 18th Amendment was all about shedding powers long held by the centre. Though reluctantly, many of the powers were passed on to the provinces. The amendment however remained silent on who will mind the capital city and its adjoining areas, formally called Islamabad Capital territory (ICT).

Since the passage of the amendment, the territory has become a hotchpotch of power.

Around eight summaries have been forwarded to the Prime Minister (PM) about the creation of a unified system for the capital, where more than three bodies are running city business and creating confusion because of overlaps in powers and jurisdiction.

Recently, Senator Saeeda Iqbal moved a motion in the Senate citing the deteriorating conditions of hospitals, educational institutes and lack of local governance system in Islamabad.

A 1980 ordinance gave the ICT the administrative status of a province, but after the 18th Amendment, the capital wound up with three parallel administrative systems.

“We have written to the PM about the establishment of a uniform mechanism to run the affairs of capital as the issues are very complex,”
said CADD Secretary Faridullah Khan.

Overlapping jurisdictions is another issue in the capital, with CADD unable to do anything concrete without the CDA or other bodies terming it intervention in their work.

CADD looks after about 424 educational institutes, while the Cabinet Division controls two hospitals and several centres for people with disabilities.

The ICT Administration controls basic health units, three rural health centres and a few dispensaries, besides minding law enforcement in the capital.

The CDA runs a hospital, a few dispensaries, a model school in Sector I-9, and city services such as sanitation.

In a bid to shore up its diminishing powers, last year CADD sent a summary to the PM seeking control of the ICT and CDA, both lucrative authorities that govern the capital and its suburbs.

Minister of State for National Health Services Saira Afzal Tarar has also sent a proposal to the PM requesting administrative control of Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences and Polyclinic Hospital — the city’s two biggest government hospitals.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Education has forwarded a summary to the PM asking for control of all education institutes including the bodies which are directly or indirectly related to it.

Over 21 institutes and bodies are under the control of the Cabinet Division, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Interprovincial Coordination Division and CADD after the 18th Amendment.

They include the National Book Foundation, Federal College of Education, Urdu Dictionary Board, Inter Board Committee of Chairmen, National Institute of Science and Technical Education and the Federal Polytechnic Institute for Women.

The education secretary said it was better if all the education related institutes were put under one umbrella for better output.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 4^th, 2014.