Three more ministries to be devolved this month

Implementation Commission on 18th Amendment will devolve three more ministries - Sports, Environment, and Women Development - to the provinces this month in its third phase, it was learnt. Secretaries of these ministries gave a detailed briefing to the Implementation Commission in a meeting held with Mian Raza Rabbani in the chair on Thursday at the Parliament House.
The Commission discussed transfer process of these ministries and their employees in detail, sources added. The Implementation Commission has already transferred ten ministries: five namely population welfare, zakat and ushr, local bodies and rural development, special initiatives and youth affairs were transferred in the first phase; while education, tourism, social welfare and special education, livestock and dairy development, and culture were transferred in the second phase.
Sources said that the Implementation Commission is fully committed to devolving Higher Education Commission (HEC). The sources said that the limited role of the HEC would be carried out by a new division, namely "Capital Administration and Development Division." The Cabinet Division has already issued a notification for the establishment of the new Capital Administration and Development Division.
According to notification, as many as 20 departments including Academy of Education Planning and Management, Islamabad, Central Board of Film Censors, Islamabad; Department of Tourist Services, Federal College of Education, will now come under the control of the newly created division. In addition any other related department that is devolved in future would also come under Capital Administration and Development Division. Similarly, the notification says, all such functions handled by the abolished/would be abolished ministries/divisions, would come under the Capital Administration and Development Division; as well as such other functions as are allocated to it from time to time.
After Thursday's meeting of the Implementation Commission, Raza Rabbani said that third phase of the transfer of ministries would be completed by mid of April. He said that the devolution process of the ministries would be completed by June 30. He said that sense of deprivation of the provinces is being eliminated through 18th Amendment in the Constitution. "There will be repercussions if implementation is not according to the letter and sprit of the 18th Amendment, he warned.
Rabbani further added that according to 18th Amendment, limited role of the HEC would be maintained. "The Implementation Commission is performing its responsibilities and it is not against any individual or department," Rabbani clarified. He said that Implementation Commission would remove reservations of HEC. The Commission has already called the officials of the HEC and discussed its organisation in detail. The Implementation Commission is ready to have further talks with HEC, he said. Rabbani said that 18th Amendment has brought a change in the structure of the state and created an ambiance of reconciliation in the country.