Business

Five federal ministries devolved

Ministries will be transferred to provinces as part of the devolution process, in accordance with the 18th amendment.

Express October 30, 2010

ISLAMABAD:

Five federal ministries including Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development, Ministry of Special Initiatives, Ministry of Zakat and Ushr, Ministry of Population Welfare and Ministry of Youth Affairs will be transferred to the provinces by the first week of November, while another five will follow suit before the end of the current fiscal year.

Finance Minister Abdul Hafeez Shaikh stated this while speaking at a Forum of Federations gathering in the city.

The 18th amendment and the 7th National Finance Commission award have empowered the provinces and by delineating their responsibilities vis-a-vis the federation, these acts will help enhance the provinces’ capacities and their economic systems.

The cutting down of federal ministries and their devolution to provinces is not only a step in that direction, it will also help reduce public expenditure and streamline governance, said Shaikh.

Meanwhile, he reiterated that the Reformed General Sales Tax will be implemented in the spirit of value-added tax.

A final decision regarding the transfer will be made during the Council of Common Interests meeting on November 1.

A new legislation granting autonomy to the State Bank of Pakistan will also be presented in parliament’s next session.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 31st, 2010.

COMMENTS (10)

Chaudary Liaqat Ali Arshad | 13 years ago | Reply i am regional director of federal seed certification and registration department. Mr Boota Sarwar is Director General of FSC&RD, he is not allowing me to be next DG. i request prime minister to make me next DG or finish this department as early as possible. this department is under federal agriculture ministry.

Aftab Kenneth Wilson | 13 years ago | Reply Please do it as soon as possible not only with these 5 ministries but also another 5 which are total 10 in numbers. Also try to remove or merge some federal ministries. Slash down things at its lowest level. Try to tax fat cats where ever they exist in the system for at least two years.

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amjad | 13 years ago | Reply This is a first good step. There is room to abolish many more ministries and power transferred to provincial governments, Before, that is done, in a serious discussuion, parliament should look into creating more provinces. A country with the area and population like Pakitan can create many more provinces. If this can be accomplished the power can truly be transferred to common people. Federal government should be there to protect borders, provide security, facilitate trade & commerce, maintain harmony between provinces, justice at the highest level and of course international relations. There are lot of countries whose set-up can be studied and incorporated to adopt what is good.

Afzal Ali | 13 years ago | Reply Dear Finance Minister saheb; You talk about austerity and cost cutting and ask people to pay taxes but people say that you stay in Five Star Hotel Serena in Islamabad. You indeed are making history; being Finance Minister of a poor country but staying in Islamabad in Five star hotel. you paid less than Rs 5000 as taxes but Mashallah you stay in 5 star hotel can some one please help poor people of Pakistan...............

KM | 13 years ago | Reply What an eye wash ... fantastic ... abolishing the ministries at the centre, and shifting them to provinces ... In other words X MNAs would now translate into X*4 MPAs ... so by doing that we will be increasing 40 MPAs. Briliant Sir! Commendable, as if provinces get their share from neighbouring countries ... Pakistan is and will remain a bunch a goons ...

reader | 13 years ago | Reply Just abolishing few ministries will not curb mis-governance, people want action not mere words or cosmetic changes...in my opinion if PM Gilani sincerely wants to serve Pakistan & a name in history then please do the following : All government vehicles (Sedans, SUV & other luxurious cars)provided to the ministries be withdrawn & be provided with 1000CC Toyota Indus cars, the foreign minister, PM & President have Mercedes/Toyota-Land Cruisers, that too when any foreign dignitaries arrives. Travel allowances must also be withdrawn, let the minister use economy class flights for both domestic & international travel purpose, let there be fewer people travel on a single visit instead of loaders, free hangers at the cost of tax payers. Lesser travel & short stay abroad with low cost budget, so that people can see real change, more connected with their respective constituencies & more assimilation with the people in resolving major problems (electricity, sky rocketing price hike) controlling law & order. State owned corporation be modernized in injecting more funds to make it a profitable enterprise...the list is too long but can be started with some short term change....

Noman Farooq | 13 years ago | Reply I find it amusing on how they are cutting down federal ministries in order to "reduce public expenditure". What about the millions of ruppes these Ministers spend on their houses, cars and security. Will it not be a better idea on trying to cut the government expenditures by reducing such expenses as well?? By how much will they be able to cut down the govt. expenditure by closing these ministries as compared to trying to cut down the cost of the PM house and the Presidents house. If these people care so much about the tax money payed by the public then they should do so from every aspect and not just by trying to cut down the ministries. Millions of people are still sleeping under the open sky, amidst the winters which are right around the corner now and there is no one to help them either.. They talk about cost cuttings, tell them to sneak into their own expenditures which they bill from the governments accounts..

Rehan Mir | 13 years ago | Reply I hope this statement also shape in for implementation as we have much more ministers in number as compared to Pakistan's genuine requirement.This is also a point of concern that we are declared the 34th most corrupt country in the world.Serious steps are to be taken for the actual and beneficial use of money collected by zakat n ushr so that we can improve the living standard of actual poor people in Pakistan and must avoid its beneficial use for the corrupt official/politicians,who are just working for their own personal interest,they don't have any love and affection for the national interest.At the end I would like to add that this is not a difficult or impossible job,what all we have to do is to make a transparent and clear/pure procedure for this and strict accountability to be observed,so that the money is divided into less politicians which are in the hunger to get this money to fill their own appetite and so that more money is available for national benefits.

GRG | 13 years ago | Reply Local Govt the name says it all it should be local..What is it doing in Islamabad the only city which never had local bodies election..just not five also close down Health and education they are local subjects too..get rid of PIA Railways and other blood shucking Govt Depts.Give some relif to the poor masses...or get ready to face them on the streets

Erfan Aziz | 13 years ago | Reply i am concerned about the Zakat and Ushr and Local Government. Who will take care of handsome money available in Zakat and Ushr in absence of a ministry and how? Local Governments have delivered a good service to the people over the years. Development in Karachi during the local government is exemplary. I do agree there are areas where Local Governments have not worked effectively but the old system did not work in those areas either. Local Governments is part of the answer. There has to be a way where people at the local level should take charge of the their localities and should not wait for the Provincial or National governments to come to the rescue.

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