Devolved provincial subjects: Senate panel flags Rs6trn ‘unauthorised’ spending by Center

ISLAMABAD: A Senate sub-committee has flagged over Rs5 trillion in alleged unauthorised federal spending on devolved provincial subjects, calling for the abolition of 24 redundant ministries and taking urgent measures to address significant shortfalls in job quotas for Sindh and Balochistan.

A meeting of the Sub-Committee on Devolution was held here on Tuesday under the Chairmanship of Senator Barrister Zamir Hussain Ghumro, which examined the expenditure on devolved matters and ministries created on the provincial subjects and matters related to the Council of Common Interest (CCI).

The Convenor said that, as per the report of the Auditor General of Pakistan, the federal government spent an amount of more than Rs.5 trillion on the devolved provincial subjects, as well as, on the ministries created on CCI matters in violation of the Constitution. This amount is roughly USD 18 billion if the amount is converted into US currency.

The Convenor said that during the last 15 years, the IMF gave Pakistan USD 15 billion and the government spent USD 18 to 20 billion on the ministries and institutions, which have been devolved.

Had the government implemented the 18th amendment and devolved provincial matters and handed over CCI matters to the Permanent Secretariat of CCI as envisaged under Article 154 of the Constitution, the country would not have needed the IMF’s assistance.

The Convenor said that the country was facing twin issues of exorbitant expenditure of the federal government and heavy borrowing touching USD 135 billion.

He said that, at present, federal government expenditure stood at around Rs.19 trillion and the total tax and non-tax Revenue of the country was Rs. 20 trillion. Nothing is left for the provinces, and the federal government resorts to heavy borrowing. Had this amount been spent on infrastructure and social development, Pakistan would have been a different country. A taxpayer’s hard-earned money has been consigned to unauthorized expenditure.

He said the federal government, under the Constitution, is not obliged to provide health, education, housing, sanitation, water or other services for which the Constitution empowered the provincial governments.

The convenor said that the CCI and the Cabinet Division have sent summaries to the PM to abolish 24 ministries and institutions, thus curtailing the federal expenditure, but the PM has yet to respond. He said, even otherwise, such ministries would be redundant as the Auditor General and Finance Ministry would not allow such expenditure.

He directed the CCI and Cabinet Division to send a fresh note to the PM for abolition of ministries on Provincial and CCI matters.

The Committee also took up the matter of shares of provinces in federal appointments in ministries and corporations.

The Establishment Division informed the Committee that, as per instructions of the Committee, 5000 jobs of Balochistan have been advertised to rectify its share as required under Article 38(g) of the Constitution.

The convenor said that the Committee had identified a shortage of more than 30,000 jobs in Balochistan’s share, which must be filled. He said that a shortage of more than 80,000 jobs was pointed out in Sindh’s share and rectification must also be made by advertising positions.

The committee expressed displeasure over the non-submission of a report by the Information Ministry, which had sought a month to devolve print media organisations/ functions at the federal level and develop a mechanism to give broadcasting rights to provinces under Article 159 of the Constitution. The committee directed it to finalise all issues in 15 days and submit compliance.

The meeting was attended by the Secretary, Cabinet Division, representatives from the AGP office, Establishment Division, Finance Division, and other relevant departments.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026