The Federal Cabinet, at its special meeting on Tuesday unanimously approved
completion of the final phase of devolution of ministries to the
provinces under the 18th constitutional amendment; meanwhile the
meeting was chaired by Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani.
Later, Minister for Information and Broadcasting Dr. Firdous Ashiq
Awan, Minister for Water and Power Syed Naveed Qamar, Chairman
Implementation Committee Senator Raza Rabbani and Senator Afrasayab
Khattack briefed the media about decisions of the cabinet and
devolution process. They described it as historic occasion as it marked
completion of the largest ever restructuring of the Government after
independence.
They said all the seventeen ministries and divisions identified for
devolution have been devolved to the provinces. In the third and final
phase on Tuesday, seven ministries of Women Development, Minorities
Affairs, Sports, Environment, Health, Food and Agriculture, and Labour
and Manpower.
In the first phase, Ministries of Special Initiatives, Zakat and Ushr, Population Welfare, Youth Affairs and Local Government and Rural Development were devolved. Ministries of Education, Social Welfare and Special Education, Culture, Tourism and Livestock and Dairy Development were devolved to the provinces.
In the first phase, Ministries of Special Initiatives, Zakat and Ushr, Population Welfare, Youth Affairs and Local Government and Rural Development were devolved. Ministries of Education, Social Welfare and Special Education, Culture, Tourism and Livestock and Dairy Development were devolved to the provinces.
The Minister for Information said the Cabinet decided that the
Ministers holding portfolios of the Ministries devolved to the
provinces would remain the folds of the cabinet but there would be
change in the portfolios.
She said with the completion of the devolution process, the PPP has
fulfilled the vision of its founding leader Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto and
implemented another commitment made in its manifesto.
Mian Raza Rabbani said in all thirty-seven thousand four hundred and twenty-nine people would be affected due to devolution. They include thirteen thousand one hundred and seventy-eight civil servants; twelve thousand and six employees of autonomous bodies; twelve thousand and two hundred project employees and forty-five of other categories.
Mian Raza Rabbani said in all thirty-seven thousand four hundred and twenty-nine people would be affected due to devolution. They include thirteen thousand one hundred and seventy-eight civil servants; twelve thousand and six employees of autonomous bodies; twelve thousand and two hundred project employees and forty-five of other categories.
He clarified that employees of the autonomous bodies and projects
would go to the provinces along with their entities and projects. He
said only about two thousand employees will have to be adjusted in
Islamabad in other ministries and departments.
Already, the Establishment Division has five hundred vacancies and others too would be accommodated.
Mian Raza Rabbani said the Cabinet also approved some draft laws
necessitated due to devolution. These include Industrial Relations Act
2011; National Commission for Women Bill 2011; Environment Protection
law 1997; establishment of an independent drug regulatory authority and
amendments in the Rules of Business of the Federal Government. SANA
