Devolution plan under 18th Amendment: Sindh chief minister urges Centre to transfer assets of other ministries, departments

Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah on Friday urged the federal government to show generosity in transferring assets of other ministries and departments in devolution plan under landmark of 18th Amendment. He was speaking at the Provincial Autonomy Day under 18th Amendment, observed by Sindh Government at Chief Minister's House.
Chairman Implementation Committee, Mian Raza Rabbani, Minister for Water and Power, Syed Naveed Qamar, senior leaders of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Sindh Cabinet and senior government officials were also present on the occasion. The audience chanted slogans "Zinda Hai Bhutto Zinda, Zinda Hai BB Zinda Hai" and "Jeeay Bhutto".
He said that 17 ministries and their assets have been transferred to provinces, but there are some ministries and department which should also be devolved and the federal government has to show a large heart in transferring their assets too to provinces, he noted. Shah urged Mian Raza Rabbani to show generosity and complete devolution process and also hand over resources of those ministries and departments mentioned in concurrent list.
He said the government is required to fulfil its Constitutional responsibility to hand over these departments without delay. Shah said that the passing and implementation of 18th Amendment was the historical achievement of PPP after the Constitution of 1973.
Similarly, the 7th NFC Award is another landmark accomplishment of the government that provided financial autonomy to the provinces, he said amid thunders of applause. He said an additional Rs 40 billion were provided to Sindh under NFC Award which enable the province to show a surplus budget and allocate more funds for development.
He appreciated all the political parties for their support and voting in the passing and implementation of 18th Amendment. He appreciated the efforts of President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani and Mian Raza Rabbani and his team for securing unanimous support from all the parties. Mian Raza Rabbani said that the passing and implementation of 18th Amendment was the result of unconditional support of all political forces in the country specially Baloch national leaders.
He said this is the largest restructuring of government in country's history after 1947 and said the souls of Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto would also be happy over this major development in country's Constitution.
He warned the provinces to be cautious of the possible efforts to sabotage 18th Amendment by the vested interests that would be looking for an opportunity to roll back this milestone achievement. Rabbani said that any attempt to roll back this process would lead to a major Constitutional crisis in the country. Syed Naveed Qamar said that anti-democratic forces never believed that 18th Amendment would become a reality one day. But this was made possible by the wisdom of President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani.