ISLAMABAD: The Council of Common Interests (CCI), which met here Monday with Prime Minister Imran Khan in chair, directed the Higher Education Commission (HEC) to finalise its recommendations within a month for a countrywide uniform higher education system in coordination with federal and provincial governments.
The HEC was further directed to formulate a strategy for the uplift of educational institutions as well as better coordination between the centre and provinces.
The prime minister, in his remarks on the occasion, stressed on the need for improvement of educational standard in Balochistan and directed the HEC to take measures in coordination with the provincial government.
WATER DISTRIBUTION:
The CCI directed the Planning Commission to review the projects of power distribution and transmission network in Balochistan, besides calling for the launch of work on the projects of crucial nature. It referred the request of Sindh province seeking additional water supply for Karachi to the National Water Council, which would present its recommendations to the CCI keeping in view the situation of existing water reservoirs, water sharing formula among provinces and the ground realities.
Besides, the National Water Council would also suggest measures to stop wastage of water and ensure its judicious use. Deliberating over the less availability of water in Pat Feeder and Kirthar canals, the CCI asked the chief ministers of Sindh and Balochistan to sort out the matter mutually.
The centre and the provinces agreed over the true implementation of AGN Qazi formula for the distribution of net hydel profits.
The prime minister directed to establish a comprehensive and transparent mechanism for water distribution among the provinces and the provision of timely updates to the provinces.
He viewed that as the non-provision of correct information caused misunderstandings, immediate measures must be taken in that regard. He assured all-out cooperation of the Federal Government to the provinces in all matters.
PM Khan said the federal government was committed to making the CCI an effective platform and to play a positive role in the resolution of issues among the provinces and strengthen the federation.
COMMITTEES FORMED:
The CCI constituted a committee under the Minister for Inter-provincial Coordination to formulate recommendations on devolution of Employees Old Age Benefits Institution (EOBI) and the Workers Welfare Fund (WWF) to the provinces.
The council decided to refer the Sindh government’s proposed amendments in Petroleum Policy 2012 to the Economic Coordination Committee of the Cabinet (ECC), which would formulate recommendations considering the proposed amendments.
The CCI reached a consensus to hand over to Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority the responsibility of uniform standards and the provision of a one-window facility to the relevant companies. In that regard, a committee comprising representatives from all the provinces, Azad Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan was also constituted to look into the legal and constitutional aspects.
The council also formed a task force to propose measures for effective implementation of regulatory authorities and the establishment of government’s writ in the provinces.
It decided to launch a nationwide “Pakistan Cleanliness Movement” that would be inaugurated by Prime Minister Imran Khan on October 7. The provinces also assured their full participation in the campaign.
The premier told the meeting that the services of Shaukat Khanam Hospital would be extended to Balochistan for the provision of healthcare facilities, particularly, the diagnosis of cancer.
SEVEN POINT-AGENDA:
The first meeting of the CCI under the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government deliberate on a seven-point agenda, including the issues of energy and water.
Chief ministers of their respective provinces, Syed Murad Ali Shah (Sindh), Sardar Usman Buzdar (Punjab), Mehmood Khan (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa) and Jam Kamal Khan (Balochistan), attended the meeting, besides the Minister for Inter-Provincial Coordination Dr Fehmida Mirza and Minister for Finance Asad Umar.
The meeting discussed the allocation of subjects between the federal and provincial governments post 18th amendment.
According to the Ministry of Inter-Provincial Coordination, the meeting had a seven-point agenda, that covered import of liquefied natural gas (LNG), launching a countrywide cleanliness drive and setting up a task force for streamlining regulatory functions.
The Petroleum, Exploration and Production Policy 2012 and matters pertaining to Workers Welfare Fund and Employees Old-Age Benefits Institution (EOBI) also came under discussion during the meeting.
The Ministry of Water Resources would present a summary on allocation of 1,200 cusecs (650.5 MGD) additional water for Karachi City (K-IV project). Resolution of energy problem of Balochistan was also discussed, including enhancement of absorption energy, limited supply of water in Pat Feeder and Kirther Canals.
Implementation of the Kazi Committee Methodology for calculation of the net hydel profit was presented by the Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development.
