ISLAMABAD: The federal cabinet on Wednesday approved devolution of five federal ministries to the provinces, and the Pak-Afghan Transit Trade Agreement (PATTA) after detailed deliberations.
But Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani made it clear to the provincial governments that no further financial support would be provided by the Centre after June 30, 2011.
However, Gilani committed to transfer to the provinces all resources allocated in the fiscal budget to the ministries of Zakat and Ushr, Population Welfare, Youth Affairs, Local Government and Rural Development and Special Initiatives and their subsidiaries.
But the tasks and assignments of international nature would be handed over to the Economic Affairs Division, which would remain in contact with the provinces, the prime minister.
Moreover, it was decided that all buildings, transport and other resources acquired by the ministries and their subsidiary organisations would be transferred to the provinces. All the ongoing projects would be handed over to the provinces and federal territories.
The cabinet was also assured that none of the 3,769 employees affected by the devolution of the five ministries would be retrenched, rather they would be absorbed in other government organisations at their stations and none of those would be transferred.
“Federal government employees working in the provinces, or in Islamabad, will not be physically dislocated and it will be ensured that they are accommodated at the place of their present posting.
Of the 1,300 working in capital, around 650 will be adjusted in the Economic Affairs Division, while the remaining 650 would be sent on deputation to various ministries,” Mian Raza Rabbani told reporters about the decisions of the Implementation Committee.
Replying to a question, Information Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira said the prime minister would decide the fate of the ministers of the devolved ministries, as it was his prerogative.
To a question about the fate of trade unions after the devolution of the Labour Ministry, he said the matter would be taken up at the time of devolution of the ministry in February. The minister said the cabinet also approved the Pak-Afghan Transit Trade Agreement (PATTA) after detailed deliberations and now the Commerce Ministry would sign the agreement.
