ajpirzada
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Another uphill task awaits govt
* Govt up against June 30, 2011, deadline for implementation of devolution plan
* 20 ministries, divisions, 100 autonomous bodies to be transferred to provinces
* Around 250,000 federal government employees likely to affected
By Irfan Ghauri
ISLAMABAD: Immediately after the passage of the constitutional amendment package in parliament, the government will have to undertake another uphill task in the form of its implementation with the concurrent list to be abolished and 40 subjects to be handed over to provinces.
The 18th Amendment Bill was passed by National Assembly on Thursday, and has been sent to the Senate, which would take it up today (Monday). The Upper House is likely to deliberate on the package for two days before a final vote on Wednesday. Following parliamentary approval, the bill would be sent to the president for signatures to culminate the legislative process.
Under the 18th Amendment, 40 of the 47 subjects in the concurrent list are to be handed over to provinces before the June 30, 2011, deadline set in the package. Subjects related to legal, medical and some education matters in the concurrent list have been shifted to the Federal List Part II, which would fall in the domain of the Council of Common Interests, while the rest of the subjects are to be handed over to the provinces within the stipulated deadline.
Sources said the government was being given the option of either retaining the 26-member parliamentary committee, headed by Senator Raza Rabbani, with a widened mandate to oversee the implementation or constituting a high-level commission, headed by a retired judge of the Supreme Court, to devise a mechanism and supervise the implementation.
Most members of the constitutional reforms committee believe that the formation of a devolution commission would be more practicable compared to the option of widening the mandate of their group. They say that such a commission should have seven-to-nine members including some bureaucrats, retired or serving, and experts.
A mechanism has to be formulated to transfer the charge to provinces of an estimated 20 ministries and divisions and 100 autonomous bodies and institutions. An arduous task of relocating to provinces more than 250,000 employees working for these organisations would also need to be undertaken. The government is likely to face stiff resistance from bureaucrats with reservations over their transfer to provinces from the federal capital.
The 18th Amendment package has also envisages the restructuring of the Federal Public Service Commission and provincial service commissions.
In case a province feels it cannot manage a subject handed over to it, the package gives the federating units the option of transferring the subject to the federal government through the passage of a resolution in the provincial assembly,
The package also provides for the provinces to generate their own resources in a bid to promote financial autonomy.
Observers believe that while the package is a step in the right direction, its implementation would need strong political will both at the centre and in the provinces, efficiency and the bureaucracys sincere support.
Daily Times - Leading News Resource of Pakistan
* Govt up against June 30, 2011, deadline for implementation of devolution plan
* 20 ministries, divisions, 100 autonomous bodies to be transferred to provinces
* Around 250,000 federal government employees likely to affected
By Irfan Ghauri
ISLAMABAD: Immediately after the passage of the constitutional amendment package in parliament, the government will have to undertake another uphill task in the form of its implementation with the concurrent list to be abolished and 40 subjects to be handed over to provinces.
The 18th Amendment Bill was passed by National Assembly on Thursday, and has been sent to the Senate, which would take it up today (Monday). The Upper House is likely to deliberate on the package for two days before a final vote on Wednesday. Following parliamentary approval, the bill would be sent to the president for signatures to culminate the legislative process.
Under the 18th Amendment, 40 of the 47 subjects in the concurrent list are to be handed over to provinces before the June 30, 2011, deadline set in the package. Subjects related to legal, medical and some education matters in the concurrent list have been shifted to the Federal List Part II, which would fall in the domain of the Council of Common Interests, while the rest of the subjects are to be handed over to the provinces within the stipulated deadline.
Sources said the government was being given the option of either retaining the 26-member parliamentary committee, headed by Senator Raza Rabbani, with a widened mandate to oversee the implementation or constituting a high-level commission, headed by a retired judge of the Supreme Court, to devise a mechanism and supervise the implementation.
Most members of the constitutional reforms committee believe that the formation of a devolution commission would be more practicable compared to the option of widening the mandate of their group. They say that such a commission should have seven-to-nine members including some bureaucrats, retired or serving, and experts.
A mechanism has to be formulated to transfer the charge to provinces of an estimated 20 ministries and divisions and 100 autonomous bodies and institutions. An arduous task of relocating to provinces more than 250,000 employees working for these organisations would also need to be undertaken. The government is likely to face stiff resistance from bureaucrats with reservations over their transfer to provinces from the federal capital.
The 18th Amendment package has also envisages the restructuring of the Federal Public Service Commission and provincial service commissions.
In case a province feels it cannot manage a subject handed over to it, the package gives the federating units the option of transferring the subject to the federal government through the passage of a resolution in the provincial assembly,
The package also provides for the provinces to generate their own resources in a bid to promote financial autonomy.
Observers believe that while the package is a step in the right direction, its implementation would need strong political will both at the centre and in the provinces, efficiency and the bureaucracys sincere support.
Daily Times - Leading News Resource of Pakistan
