Provincial Autonomy Day celebrated across the country on Sunday to mark the implementation of the 18th Constitutional Amendment that ensured more autonomy to the provinces.
Leading politicians‚ legal and constitution experts‚ analysts and intellectuals lauded the government's decision to celebrate first July as Provincial Autonomy Day. Talking to Radio Pakistan they said granting of the provincial autonomy under the 18th Constitutional Amendment has empowered the provinces and strengthened the Federation.
Senator Mian Raza Rabbani said credit goes to the PPP‚ its leadership and political parties representing in the Parliament for the passage of the 18th Amendment which resulted in provincial autonomy.
Prominent intellectual Dr. Mehdi Hassan said that formerly the smaller provinces were complaining that the Centre and the biggest provinces usurping their rights. However‚ the 18th Amendment resolved this issue on permanent basis.
Senior PPP leader Professor N.D. Khan said the government under the leadership of President Asif Ali Zardari created consensus among political parties and get passed the 18th Amendment unanimously. He said it also helped remove the sense of deprivation among the provinces.