ISLAMABAD – Fate of 5 national institutions hangs in balance after devolution of federal ministries to provinces under the 18th Amendment. These institutions include Pakistan Academy of Letters (PAL), National Book Foundation (NBF), National Language Authority (NLA), Pakistan National Council of Arts (PNCA) and National Lok Virsa Museum (NLVM).
Under the devolution plan, control of all institutions, previously working under federal ministries of education and culture, is to be transferred to provinces by the end of February. However, a source involved in the process of devolution informed Pakistan Today that these institutions will most likely be given under the control of Cabinet Division.
The source said that except Pakistan Academy of Letters, the rest of the four institutions were autonomous bodies, and after devolution, their boards of governors will be given more powers to run their affairs. It may be mentioned that National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Education is already working on a bill to give autonomous status to PAL.
Lok Virsa spokesman Anwar-ul-Haq, commenting on the fate of his institution said, “We have been working for strengthening the federation. Lifestyle of different areas has been preserved here in forms of statues, pictures, poetry, music and textile work. We are not sure about our fate, which depends on the recommendations of the parliamentary committee.”
