More autonomy to provinces stressed

Conference calls for greater provincial autonomy, equal distribution of resources to strengthen federalism, democracy.

ISLAMABAD: Parliamentarians, constitutional experts and civil society representatives at a conference on Wednesday called for greater provincial autonomy and equal distribution of resources among the federating units to strengthen federalism and democracy.

“The strength of federalism rests on the diversity of cultures and languages and not in strong centre,” I.A. Rehman, a noted human rights activist and intellectual said, while speaking at the conference on “Challenging of Deepening Democracy in Pakistan”, organised by the Centre for Civic Education.

“The provinces are not subjects of the Centre but are the federating coordinates and that a strong federation does not mean a strong centre,” he said

Describing the aim of the conference, Zafarullah Khan, of the Centre of Civic Education, said that there was a need for educating people about their rights and responsibilities enshrined in the Constitution.

He reminded the civil society and media of their responsibility to play an effective role in educating the people of their rights. The members of the Constitutional Reform Committee, present at the occasion, opined that 18th Amendment was the first step towards achieving the goal
of democracy, justice and equal distribution of resources in Pakistan.

Chairman of Implementation Commission on 18th Amendment, Senator Raza Rabbani said, “18th Amendment was not a perfect document. It was just the first step towards realisation of democratic dreams of the people.”

He stressed the need for more equitable distribution and joint management of resources that will strengthen federalism.

Rabbani said that in the first phase the commission would facilitate handing over (devolution) of powers of five ministries to provinces in the first week of December, followed by the second stage which will begin in the first week of February, 2011.

Senator Ishaq Dar, a PML-N leader and member of the committee said that the politics of consensus-building and reconciliation culminated in the passage of 18th Amendment.

Former CM, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sardar Mehtab Abbasi said that greater responsibility rested with the smaller provinces now to prepare themselves to deliver as per the expectations of the people. He also urged the civil society to guide the smaller provinces as to how they should use their resources in efficient manner.

Moreover, Afrasiab Khattak of ANP said that the new amendment in the Constitution removed distortion made by military dictators. He said that after the 18th Amendment, Pakistan has become one of the modern democratic countries.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 25^th, 2010.