ISLAMABAD: The Senate Functional Committee on Devolution, chaired by Senator Zarqa Suharwardy, has recommended the devolution of the Federal Ministry of Industries and Production along with the Ministry of Energy (Petroleum Division).
Further recommendations concerning the redistribution of responsibilities to the provinces or the Council of Common Interests (CCI) will follow.
The meeting, attended by Senators Zamir Hussain Ghumro, Poonjo Bheek, Fawzia Arshad, and senior officials, reviewed the performance of both ministries over the last two financial years.
The committee noted that the Ministry of Industries and Production, already deemed a provincial subject, should be further examined by the Ministry of Law and Justice for a more informed decision.
Concerns were raised about the operational and hiring practices at the national steel mills, which remain closed while the private sector flourishes.
Questions about the rationale behind hiring 2,200 employees for non-operational mills and the massive gas bill amounting to Rs 44 crore were discussed. The committee learned that gas to the mills had been discontinued and that a Chinese firm’s interest in the mills had waned, removing them from the privatization list.
In matters of agriculture, the Secretary of Industries and Production clarified that subsidies are provided to farmers, not factories or industries. However, concerns about a Rs 25 billion urea subsidy were raised, given the broader context of national gas shortages.
The non-developmental budget for the Ministry stands at 62 billion rupees, with significant scrutiny over the allocation and recipients of these subsidies, prompting a request for a detailed report on the sales and exports of the ten major fertilizer companies.
The Petroleum Division also faced scrutiny for the creation of 70 new companies, which the committee believed exceeded governmental authority. The review extended to the Board of SNGPL and the renewal of the joint venture contract of Sendak Company, with significant revenues discussed.
The committee expressed the unanimous decision to abolish the Ministry of Industries and Production and devolve its duties to provincial authorities. Similar sentiments were echoed for the Ministry of Energy, with the Petroleum Division set to be managed by the CCI.
A separate session was requested by a representative from the Power Division to discuss the implications of these devolutions in detail.
Lastly, the committee critiqued the minimal support and promotion for sports post-Arshad Nadeem’s victory, urging a comprehensive briefing on initiatives to enhance sports in Pakistan.
