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Karachi, March 07, 2016 (PPI-OT):Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah has said that the federal government was reluctant to implement 18th amendment in true letter and spirit. The Centre has yet to devolve assets and functions of 10 ministries. This he said this while talking to the committee of National Assembly on Inter-provincial Coordination Committee led by Abdul Qahar Khan Wadan. The other MNAs in the committee include Siraj Mohammad Khan, Sardar M. Shafqat Hayat Khan, Chaudhry Nazir Ahmed, Madam Tahira Bukhari, Ms Sabiha Nazir, Mohammad Asim Nazir, Rafiq Ahmed Khan Jamali, Saeed Ahmed Manais, and others.
The Chief Minister said that he was continuously pressing the federal government and have written DO letters to the prime minister and used CCI forum to get the assets and functions of 10 different ministries to Sindh but still a little success have been attained. He said that all activities mentioned in the concurrent Legislative List be transferred along with assets to the provincial government on principle as laid down in the Article 274 of the constitution.
Earlier, Additional Chief Secretary Mohammad Waseem briefing the committee said that the federal government has closed devolution sections set up in devolved ministries. Therefore, the residual matters pertaining to the devolved ministries would be dealt by the ministry/Division to whom the functions of devolved ministry retained at the federal level.
He said that the assets/activities of 10 departments, as mentioned by the chief minister, have not been devolved to Sindh government. They are funding for provincial welfare programme, transfer of central warehouse of contraceptives, Karachi and National Institute of Fertility Care, Karachi to provincial Population Welfare Department. Devolution of Plant Protection Department, including standardization of pesticides and fertilizers, seed testing and seed certification to Sindh Agriculture Department.
Transfer of Evacuee Trust Property to Sindh Minorities Affairs Department; National Coaching and Training Centre Karachi and Youth hostels built in Karachi, Larkana and Jamshoro. He said that the issues of Culture Tourism and Antiquities Department which remain unresolved are share of Sindh/other provinces in Museum Compensation Fund and Pakistan Culture and Arts Foundation Relief Fund. Devolution of Central archaeological Library at Karachi; National Heritage Fund. PIDC assets like Motel at Hawksbay, Tourist Information Centre Thatta, Motel and Tourist Information Centre, Moenjo-Daro and 32 canal land at Sukkur.
Mohammad Waseem said that the Sindh government has enacted the zakat and Ushr act 2011 despite that the federal government was still collecting zakat. Similarly, The Sindh government has enactment of Sindh Employees Old Age Benefit Act, 2014, even then the federal government has not devolved the institution to Sindh government. He added that the federal government has to transfer Workers Welfare Fund projects such as 1024 flats at Sukkur, 2000 bedded surgical hospital at Sukkur, 512 flats at Shaheed Benazirabad, High School and a 50-bedded hospital Chondko, district Khairpur and 128 flats at Sujawal.
He said that the federal government instead of devolving some functions to Sindh government has created Livestock and fisheries wings. Giving some examples, the ACS (Development) said Laboratory for detection of drugs residues in animal products Karachi has been created in Ministry of Commerce, Korangi Fish Harbour Authority and Office for promotion of Deep Sea Fisheries Resources have been created in Ministry of Ports and Shipping.
Talking about health department, Mohammad Waseem said that administrative control of PMDC; Pakistan Nursing Council; College of Physicians and Surgeons of Pakistan; National Council of Tibb, National Council of Homeopathy; Pharmacy Council of Pakistan, Directorate of Central Health Establishment and Tobacco Control Cell are required to be devolved to Sindh government.
Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah said that the federal government should stop collection of royalty on crude oil being a residual subject. The federal government should make necessary amendments in law related to oil and Gas in the light of Article 172 which includes regulation of Mines and oil fields and Mineral Development (Govt Control) Act 1948; Mines Act, 1923 and Oilfield (Regulation and Development) Act 1969; Electricity Act 1910, OGRA ordinance 2002 for due representation of provinces on NEPRA model; Relevant laws, rules, regulations on land reclamation, development of coastal regions, fishing rights and licensing regime; existing (upstream and downstream) rules, policies, Lease agreements, petroleum sharing agreements.
He said that the federal government has to repeal of the Mineral (Acquisition and Transfer) Order 1961 and draft of a new Petroleum Joint Control Law which provision for establishment of petroleum management authority by replacing or encompassing DG Gas, DG PC, DG Oil and DG LPG.
The chairman of the Committee Abdul Qahar Khan and members lauded the working of Sindh government on 18th amendment. They assured the chief minister that they would take up the issues with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and get these issues resolved. “We believe in provincial autonomy. The federation strengthen further when province is give full autonomy.” the chairman of the Inter-Provincial Coordination Committee said.
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