Govt yet to wind up 17 devolved ministries

The Senate subcommittee on Devolution twice warned that it may seek Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to explain why the constitutional directives on 17 ministries were not implemented. These ministries, which handle subjects like education, health, and industry, were devolved to provinces in 2010. The government's defense for retaining these ministries is to fulfill international commitments and promote cooperation, according to Hasan Naqvi, an additional secretary of the Cabinet Division.

However, the PPP Senator Zamir Hussain Ghumro, who convened the meeting, deemed the government's response as "contemptuous" and argued that the Constitution does not allow retaining ministries based on international commitments. The committee emphasized its concern that federal government is encroaching into the domain of provinces, specifically citing the Petroleum Ministry's unconstitutionally appointing directors for Pakistan Petroleum Limited.

They also urged the Petroleum Ministry to seek nominations of directors from provincial governments, despite the Privatisation Division Secretary insisting no fresh decision of the Council of Common Interests was needed. The committee reiterated its instructions to end federal control over the Police Service of Pakistan and the dissolution of Capital Administration and Development Division.