KARACHI: The Sindh government has decided that a letter with serious reservations would be sent to the federal government about the delay in the transfer of assets and funds of the five departments transferred to the provinces by the centre.
The decision was made in a meeting at the Chief Minister’s House headed by Qaim Ali Shah. The meeting reviewed various matters related to the transfer of the five departments from the federal government in accordance with the 18th Amendment.
The departments of Zakat, Local Government, Population Welfare, Youth Affairs and Special Initiatives are to be transferred to the provinces on December 8. The chief minister lamented that the problems of these departments such as their liabilities are being transferred to the province, but not their assets and funds.
“Until the NFC Award is fully implemented, the Centre should afford the budget of these departments,” he said. The meeting was informed that the Punjab government had completed changes in 62 terms of references of the departments, while Sindh was still preparing the same.
It was decided that Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani would be informed about the situation, so that the matter could be resolved in an appropriate manner.
A cell would be established for the implementation of the transfer process that would monitor the affairs of the process and identify problems.
An ordinance will be issued regarding the merger of departments with the provincial government until legislation was chalked out by the Sindh Assembly.
