‘Two provinces to get 10 ministries by year-end’

Finance minister says economy to be decentralised, 10 federal ministries to be transfered under 18th amendment.

ISLAMABAD: As envisaged in the 18th Amendment, the government will transfer 10 federal ministries to the provinces by the end of this year and the economy will be decentralised, Finance Minister Dr Abdul Hafeez Sheikh said on Saturday.

Addressing the media in Islamabad, Dr Sheikh said that a plan has been finalised to hand over 10 federal ministries to two provinces in two phases.

Under the scheme, five ministries each will be devolved in November and December, the minister said.

Population welfare, youth affairs, local bodies and rural development, zakat and ushr, special initiatives, culture and tourism, special education, social welfare, and minorities’ affairs will be abolished at the federal level before the end of current calendar year.

Separately, Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani said the government was firm on completing the devolution plan under the 18th Amendment by June next year.

At a meeting with his adviser Senator Raza Rabbani, Gilani directed him to acelerate the process as soon as possible.

“The process of devolution will fulfil the long outstanding political commitment of democratic forces of devolving responsibilities to the provinces,” the premier added.

Rabbani, who is also the chairman of a parliamentary commission to implement the 18th amendment, said the process would definitely be finished within the stipulated time.

He briefed the PM about the ongoing process of devolution and the upcoming meetings of the commission and provincial governments next week.

Rabbani also said that the Parliamentary Committee on constitutional reforms will be meeting on November 1 in light of the Supreme Court decision.

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