Implementation Commission on 18th Amendment would present devolution plan of five more ministries to the provinces in the forthcoming cabinet meeting for final approval, while financial matters in this regard would be settled in the Council of Common Interest (CCI).
Chairman of Implementation Commission Mian Raza Rabbani stated this while talking to media after the commission meeting on Saturday. He said financial issues of the ministries would be resolved in the CCI in presence of the prime minister, the chief ministers of the provinces and Finance Secretary.
To a question, he said that roundabout 1300 employees would be affected due to the devolution of five more ministries. "Today, we have given final touch to the devolution of Social Welfare and Special Education, Education, Livestock and Dairy Development, Culture and Tourism ministries and now the plan will be placed before the next cabinet meeting for final approval," he added.
He said that during Saturday's, the commission listened to Higher Education Commission (HEC)'s point of view. He said that role of HEC would be limited in the centre under 18th Amendment after devolution of education to the provinces. Well-placed sources in the Implementation Commission told Business Recorder that during the meeting, the HEC Chairman and other officials were of the view that the HEC should be kept with the centre while Main Raza Rabbani categorically said that it would be devolved to the provinces under 18th Amendment.
"The country cannot afford politically and constitutionally to delay the process of devolution. This process will be completed till June 30, 2011 at any cost. Those departments, which have been described in the constitution will be transferred to the provinces.
For this purpose, directions have been issued to the finance Ministry and the CCI to find a way out of the financial problems," the sources quoted Raza Rabbani as saying during the meeting. According to the sources, a sub-committee of the CCI would meet on March 28, 2011 to discuss financial issues of the ministries and to find way-out to resolve the complications.
The sources said that the provinces had asked the federation to pay the salaries of the employees of devolved ministries for five years. Even the provinces said that the federal government should give financial support to the provinces for infrastructure and capacity building, they added.
The sources said that there was a proposal to establish new Islamabad Capital Territory Division so that the remaining institutions of these devolved ministries should stay under one umbrella. All these departments will function under this ministry. However, the sources said that the Islamabad Capital Territory Division would be created after completion of devolution process under 18th Amendment.