Islamabad: A meeting of the Senate Sub-Committee on Devolution, chaired by Senator Barrister Zamir Hussain Ghumro, addressed concerns over federal expenditures on devolved provincial subjects and the underrepresentation of smaller provinces in federal services and corporations. The committee emphasized the need for adherence to constitutional mandates regarding these issues.

According to Senate of Pakistan, the committee scrutinized federal spending exceeding Rs. 5 trillion on devolved provincial matters, which the Auditor General of Pakistan deemed unconstitutional. The committee underscored the importance of implementing the 18th Amendment and transferring relevant responsibilities to the Council of Common Interests (CCI) to avoid unnecessary foreign aid reliance. Convenor Ghumro highlighted that federal expenditures should strictly adhere to the Constitution, focusing on federal matters rather than provincial services like health and education.

The committee also highlighted the disparity in federal appointments, particularly affecting Balochistan and Sindh. The Establishment Division reported the advertisement of 5,000 jobs for Balochistan to address its quota shortage. However, the committee noted ongoing deficiencies, including a 30,000 job shortfall in Balochistan and over 80,000 in Sindh, and called for expedited recruitment to rectify these imbalances.

Additionally, the committee expressed dissatisfaction over the Information Ministry’s delay in devolving print media functions and granting broadcasting rights to provinces, demanding a resolution within 15 days. The meeting included representatives from various federal departments, underscoring the urgency of addressing these constitutional and administrative challenges.