Senate Committee on Devolution Calls for Greater Oversight and Accountability in Sports and Energy Sectors


Islamabad: The Senate Functional Committee on Devolution, under the leadership of Chairperson Senator Dr. Zarqa Suharwardy Taimur, met today at Parliament House to scrutinize the functioning of the Ministry of Inter-Provincial Coordination and the sports federations it oversees.



According to Senate of Pakistan, the Secretary of the Ministry of Inter-Provincial Coordination presented detailed reports on the human resources of the ministry and the financial support extended to 44 registered National Sports Federations. The discussion also encompassed the performance of the Pakistan Olympic Association and the absence of oversight concerning the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).



The committee expressed concerns over the transparency and efficacy of sports management in the country, highlighting the need for comprehensive inquiries into all sports federations. Chairperson Senator Dr. Zarqa underscored the importance of recognizing and harnessing the potential of Pakistan’s youth in sports, noting the unsatisfactory outcomes despite significant budget allocations.



Additionally, the meeting delved into the operations of Independent Power Producers (IPPs), with Senator Dr. Zarqa advocating for a forensic audit to address the transparency issues and the burden these entities have placed on the populace. The committee resolved to refer issues of surplus employment within the Ministry to the Establishment Division, in line with the devolution required by the 18th Constitutional Amendment.