Devolution process reviewed: Body concerned at federal control of Discos

ISLAMABAD: A sub-committee of the Functional Committee on Devolution expressed serious concern over the failure to convene meetings of the Council of Common Interests (CCI) and questioned the federal government’s continued control over subjects devolved to the provinces under the 18th Amendment.

The sub-committee, chaired by Senator Zamir Hussain Ghumro, met at Parliament House on Monday and reviewed the implementation of the devolution process, including the status of 17 ministries abolished in 2011.

Under Article 154(3) of the Constitution, the CCI is required to meet at least once every 90 days. Senator Zamir Hussain Ghumro said the federal government had failed to convene a CCI meeting despite the constitutional requirement. “The federal government is violating the Constitution of Pakistan by not calling a meeting of the CCI,” he said.

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The sub-committee also examined federal government expenditure on functions relating to the 17 abolished ministries over the past 15 years. It directed the Auditor General of Pakistan to provide, within seven days, details of expenditure incurred by the federal government on matters falling within provincial jurisdiction.

The Establishment Division told the sub-committee that police-related powers, duties and responsibilities did not fall within its domain. Ghumro, however, maintained that policing was a provincial subject.

Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar briefed the committee on the devolution of the film and cinema sectors. He said the sectors had been transferred to the provinces and called for relatively liberal censorship standards.

Tarar said that he wanted to see greater film production in the country and proposed establishing a national coordination council for film censor boards. The sub-committee decided to approach the CCI on the proposal.

Discussing the newspaper industry, Tarar remarked, “The newspaper is dying, but it is still working.” Ghumro said media-related matters were also to be devolved to the provinces under the 18th Amendment. Tarar sought one month to complete the process of transferring the relevant sectors to the provinces.

The sub-committee also raised concerns over continued federal control of electricity distribution companies (Discos). Ghumro said electricity transmission and distribution fell within the provincial domain under Article 157 of the Constitution.

A Power Division official informed the committee that provincial governments had repeatedly been asked to take over management of the Discos.

Ghumro also expressed displeasure over a letter sent by the Privatisation Division to the Ministry of Law and Justice concerning the Discos. He warned that if the letter was not withdrawn, the committee would approach the provinces regarding the transfer of administrative control of the distribution companies.

The sub-committee directed that the matter of transferring Discos to the provinces be referred to the CCI for consideration.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026