Futile devolution

The devolution of education, health, local government and youth affairs departments under the 18th Amendment has proved to be a futile exercise. Before the amendment, the four provinces were already looking after the operational side of these departments while the centre was dealing with issues like setting policies, foreign assistance, the federally-administered areas and in some cases research and training. Now these services have been handed over to the ministries that were retained by the centre instead of devolving to the provinces.

To make up for the deficiency created by the devolved departments, the federal government has created some new ministries/divisions like the National Health Service, IT, etc. The staff that was working in the devolved ministries has also been adjusted in federal ministries/departments. As a result of this half-backed devolution/readjustment, the people of the federally-administered areas – Fata, Safron, etc – are being left in a kind of limbo. They have no idea about the ministry/department they should approach to redress their grievances.

Muhammad Aslam Badar

Faisalabad