Devolution plan: special cabinet meeting likely on March 28

The government has conveyed the special cabinet meeting likely to be held on March 28 to approve the transfer of five more federal ministries to the provinces under the devolution plan after 18th Constitutional Amendment.
Secretary, Establishment Division (ED), Rauf Chaudhary disclosing the devolution plan of the government said five ministries must be transferred to provinces by March 30, 2011 as per original plan of the federal government.
He said that according to ED's estimates 27,000 government employees would be affected by this massive transfer exercise of five ministries and related departments. Informing the Senate Standing Committee on Cabinet Secretary ED said the transfer of ministries of education, special education, livestock, culture and tourism would be completed by March 30.
He said all the homework has already been finalised and summary sent to prime minister secretariat to put the transfer issue on the agenda of upcoming federal cabinet meeting.
Talking about the layout of second phase, the secretary said that out of total number of employees, those 7,500 federal employees who are already working in provinces would be absorbed in the provincial services cadre. However, 'Primarily, federal employees' status in provinces will remain as deportee."
He further informed that total 16 federal ministries would be transferred to provinces by the end of June 2011. The implementation commission of parliament on constitutional amendments would also be commissioned till June 2011.
In third phase, the secretary said six more ministries including the Ministry of Health will be devolved to provinces as planned. But, in third phase the strategy will be different from before. In third phase, one ministry will be disposed of each month to provinces, as commission has left with little time to finish the task.
He further said that first phase of transfer has been completed and all the 1693 federal employees were adjusted at federal and provincial levels. Only 491 federal employees who were deputed in provinces were transferred.
"We are trying not to put any federal employee in surplus pool in the wake of his/her seniority and government departments has been directed not to employ any outsider against their vacant posts," the secretary said.
He said that a joint sitting of commission was looking into the constitutional amendment had also been called before April 28 to remove all impediments in the way of disposing of 16 ministries to the provinces.
Some new amendments in civil services act 1973 would be proposed in the meeting. The amendments would provide safeguard to the surplus government servants under section 10 of the civil services rules.