The meeting of Senate Functional Committee on Devolution was held with Senator Dr. Zarqa Suharwardhy Taimur in chair at Parliament House on Monday. The Senate Functional Committee lamented the Council of Common Interest (CCI) officials for submitting a reply stating that the CCI, being a constitutional forum, is answerable to Parliament, whose directions in a joint sitting are binding on the Council, but not to its Special or Functional Committees. Senator Zamir Hussain Ghumro asserted that under Article 153 of the Constitution of Pakistan, the Council of Common Interest is answerable to Parliament, and Committees are an extension of the House. He further added that the Council of Common Interests is responsible for governing and supervising institutions such as PMDC, Railways, and WAPDA, which fall under the Federal Legislative List Part II after the 18th Amendment. Unfortunately, the core responsibilities of the CCI are being controlled and managed by the Federal Cabinet. The Committee directed the CCI to submit annual reports of previous years and asserted that the CCI should regain its legal position and fulfill the responsibilities entrusted by the Constitution of Pakistan.

Furthermore, the Senate Committee was briefed on the role and function of the Ministry of National Food Security and Research. Senator Dr. Zarqa Suharwardhy Taimur stated that food and agriculture are devolved subjects and the Ministry of National Food Security and Research should be devolved as per the 18th Amendment. She also highlighted that despite having a separate ministry, the country's indigenous fruit has been depleted, and the ministry has failed to undertake any steps to protect local production. Instead, foreign tree species are being planted, which are not suitable for the national ecosystem and are causing health issues, such as allergies, in Islamabad. The Committee decided to have a detailed briefing on the seventeen attached departments of the ministry. The meeting was attended by Senator Poonjo Bheel,Senator Zamir Hussain Ghumro,Senator Fawzia Arshad,Additional Secretary for Ministry of National Food Security and Research Ayesha Khalid and other senior officials of ministry and Council of Common Interest were also in attendance.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan