Ministries for hounds

Though the Ministry of National Harmony (created back in June 2011 along with two other ministries) may have failed to bring the countrymen any closer; it certainly did wonders for the coalition of estranged political bedfellows. Just last week, another such display of political appeasement further ballooned the cabinet size (over 50 now) when the Prime Minister created four new ministries with a mere stroke of pen! The Federal Government churned out portfolios like food security and research, national heritage and integration, disaster management and national regulation and services. The question arises: is there any administrative or economic rationale for such a boisterous move other than that of political exigency? The new portfolios seem unnecessary for the Federation. Firstly, they fall under the provincial domain in the post-Eighteenth Amendment milieu. For instance, the function of food security and research and that of national heritage could be performed by provincial ministries for agriculture and culture, respectively. Similarly, the national regulation is a sub-function which suits, administratively, the cabinet secretariat. Secondly, these functions do not require separate ministries. A reliable source told BR Research that these functions could be performed with lesser workforce and budgetary implications if they are kept, as before, with the capital administration and development division of the cabinet secretariat. One section officer suffices to deal with the Federal affairs and related inter-provincial coordination. It is not too difficult to debunk this administrative move on account of its financial implications which may run into billions of taxpayers rupees. One gasps at the costs incurred on the remuneration, housing and travel allowances of a full-fledged minister, who is assisted by a secretary, joint secretary(s), additional secretary(s) and a coterie of selected employees! The operational side is no less worrisome. Take disaster management for instance. Prior to devolution, this function came under the Environment Division which also included functions like environment protection, climate change, etc. Post-devolution, the divisions policymaking role was referred to the Planning Commission, whereas the operational departments were transferred to the provinces. In that backdrop, the source equated the creation of a ministry for disaster management to a recipe for disaster (pun intended) as other environmental functions would have to be merged in the said ministry. Firstly, fresh rules of business would have to be devised by the cabinet secretariat to streamline the functions of planning, operations and management of attached departments. Enter foreign consultants! Secondly, the human resource constraints would compound as many technical employees have already been relocated to the provinces. Thirdly, there are concerns whether a ministry for disaster management would be beneficial in any way for the National Disaster Management Authority. NDMA is already housed in the Prime Minister Secretariat and despite garnering attention, its performance is unsatisfactory! Besides the adverse operational and financial implications; the creation of new ministries and that too, by encroaching on provincial domain, are against the spirit of devolution. Perhaps, the government is going all-out to save its coalition through the spoils of power just to secure victory in the upcoming senate elections. It makes sense why these elections are being dubbed as "do-or-die" for the 18th Amendment. As things stand, there would be very little scope and jurisdiction for these new ministries outside Islamabad. A whole lot of administration would be doing what could have been accomplished by a small staff of two or three civil servants. And that may not be the end of it, so wait for some more ministries hitting the ground soon!