Govt ‘bleeding’ Rs5-6 trillion annually, Senate body laments

A Senate panel on Monday condemned the federal government's alleged disregard for the 18th Amendment, alleging it is draining Pakistan's finances by retaining ministries that should belong to the provinces. The subcommittee, chaired by Senator Barrister Zamir Hussain Ghumro, examined the federal budget of Rs19 trillion for FY2026-27, against the country's total revenue of Rs20 trillion.

The committee found that the non-implementation of the 18th Amendment results in "financial bleeding" that could be halted immediately. They noted that the federal government had "brazenly ignored" the 1973 Constitution by creating ministries and organizations dealing with provincial subjects. The committee listed 25 ministries and bodies, including health, education, and oil and gas, that they claimed were "unlawfully retained" by the federal government.

They called for the reconstitution of the Council of Common Interests (CCI) on an equal footing among provinces and for its rules to be framed under Article 154. The subcommittee suggested that if faithfully implemented, the 18th Amendment could save Rs5-6 trillion annually, which could then be disbursed to the provinces. They warned that failure to comply with their recommendations could amount to a "subversion of the Constitution".