ISLAMABAD: A Senate committee has questioned the federal government’s continued involvement in areas devolved to the provinces under the 18th Amendment and voiced concern over the lack of meetings of the Council of Common Interests (CCI).
The Senate Functional Committee on Devolution, chaired by Senator Zameer Hussain Ghumro, reviewed progress on devolution and the status of 17 ministries abolished in 2011. Ghumro said the CCI was a constitutionally significant body and warned that failing to give it due importance could violate the Constitution.
The committee’s subcommittee asked the Auditor General of Pakistan to submit, within seven days, details of federal spending over the past 15 years on matters linked to the abolished ministries.
Officials from the Establishment Division said police matters did not fall within its remit. Ghumro, however, maintained that policing was a provincial responsibility.
Information Minister Attaullah Tarar briefed the panel on the transfer of film and cinema matters to the provinces. He called for a more liberal approach to film censorship and proposed a national coordination council for provincial film censor boards. The subcommittee decided to raise the proposal with the CCI. Tarar also requested a month to complete the transfer of relevant media-related responsibilities.
The panel further questioned federal control of electricity distribution companies (DISCOs). Ghumro said electricity distribution was a provincial matter under Article 157 of the Constitution. The Power Division told the committee that provinces had repeatedly been asked to assume management of the companies.
After expressing concern over a letter from the Privatisation Division to the Ministry of Law and Justice concerning the DISCOs, Ghumro said the committee could approach the provinces about taking administrative control if the letter was not withdrawn. The subcommittee directed that the matter be referred to the CCI.
