ISLAMABAD – The chairman of the implementation commission on the 18th Amendment, Raza Rabbani on Monday quashed rumours that employees would be sent to a surplus pool under the 18th Amendment.
Talking to reporters after the meeting of the commission, Rabbani said neither any employee would be retrenched nor anyone would be sent to the surplus pool and the government would ensure that no employee is affected due to the devolution of ministries under the 18th Amendment.
He said the second phase of the devolution of ministries to provinces would be complete by the end of this month or the beginning of the next. “As far as the future of employees is concerned which are working with the ministries being devolved, let me assure you that nobody would be affected.
The employees working in projects will remain in their respective provinces while those working with the autonomous bodies attached with these ministries will also go to the provinces along with the autonomous departments. The federal employees will be adjusted in the federal capital,” he said.
Rabbani, however, made it clear that the Education Ministry would be handed over to the provinces while the subject of the curriculum would also go to the provinces. “The subject of curriculum was a part of the concurrent list. Now since the concurrent list has been abolished under the 18th Amendment, all these subjects have to be handed over to the provinces,” he said.
Asked about the reservations by some ministries against devolution, Rabbani said he respected the viewpoint of those ministers. “But let me remind you that I am bound to follow the constitution. We have to meet constitutional provisions,” he added. Rabbani said reservations against the devolution process had no ground and the federal capital was making efforts to strengthen the provinces as strong provinces would ensure a string federation.
