ISLAMABAD: The Senate Standing Committee on Devolution has expressed concerns over the federal government meddling in 17 ministries, which have already been devolved to provinces under the 18th Amendment.
The Senate panel, which met here on Friday with Senator Zamir Hussain Ghumro in the chair, expressed serious concerns over the implementation status of the 18th Constitutional Amendment and the subsequent re-establishment of ministries that had been devolved to the provinces. The federal government’s interference in the devolved subjects put an unnecessary financial burden on the national exchequer.
The committee chairman observed that dealing with subjects already devolved to the provinces amounted to a violation of the Constitution. Such ministries and institutions include education, health, national food security, culture and heritage, climate change, social initiatives, housing, EOBI, Evacuee Trust, the function of Collection of Zakat & Ushur and others.
However, he noted that new ministries or divisions had subsequently been established under different names, including the Ministry of Food Security, effectively performing functions already assigned to the provinces. He remarked that the continuation of federal ministries on devolved subjects not only contradicted the Constitution but also imposed an unnecessary financial burden on the federal government.
The committee was informed that the re-established ministries were functioning only to the extent of the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) and other federal responsibilities. Nevertheless, Senator Ghumro observed that the federal government had expanded its administrative structure to 31 ministries instead of limiting itself to the constitutionally mandated nine federal ministries, which include Defence, Foreign Affairs, Finance, Commerce, Communica-tion, Maritime Affairs, Science and Technology, Law and Justice and Parliamentary Affairs.
Senator Zamir Hussain said the federal government’s expenditure has skyrocketed to PKR 19000 billion when the total tax and non-tax revenue of the country was PKR 20,000 billion. He said only defence expenditure could be justified given the war-like conditions being faced by the country. Presently, nine constitutionally mandated ministries, apart from Defence, have a budget of PKR 420 billion. “By creating other ministries on the subjects of the erstwhile Concurrent list and Council of Common Interest (CCI) matters, the federal government has increased its expenditure to PKR 19000 billion, which must be capped at PKR 13000 billion, which includes PKR 8000 of debt servicing as well. This can save the nation PKR 5000-to-6000 billion. We need not take loans which have usurped our financial sovereignty,” he added.
Expressing concern over the ineffective functioning of the permanent Secretariat of CCI, Senator Ghumro stressed the need to restructure the federal administrative framework strictly in accordance with the Constitution. Upon the committee’s recommendation, a sub-committee was constituted to examine the devolution matters, including violation of notifications issued on 2nd December, 2010, 15th April, 2011, and 29th June, 2011, on the recommendation of the Implementation Commis-sion constituted under clause 9 of article 270AA of the Constitution.
Senator Jan Muhammad Buledi said that not only recreation of such ministries be rescinded but the sub-committee should see the functions of CCI, which has been made dysfunctional.
The committee also reviewed submissions made by the Establishment Division regarding appointments in devolved subjects. It recommended that the Establishment Division refrain from making appointments in departments dealing with devolved subjects and ensure that the constitutional share of the provinces is fully protected in all appointments and promotions.
The committee further directed the Establishment Division to strictly comply with constitutional provisions and submit a compliance report within 15 days.
The committee also deliberated on the constitutional provision introduced through the 18th Amendment regarding the distribution of revenues from oil and gas resources to the provinces.
Senator Ghumro observed that while the federal government continued to receive its constitutional share, the provinces were not receiving their due rights, creating a sense of deprivation among the people. The committee directed the relevant authorities to furnish complete details of payments made to the provinces during the last sixteen years.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
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