23 ministries, departments to come under control of provinces with approval of 18th amendment

Twenty-three ministries and departments will be shifted to provinces with the approval of 18th amendment from the parliament, however, its implementation will be made in phases.

According to Cabinet Division (CB) sources 8 ministries and departments will go to provinces on the complete abolition of concurrent list and due to change in federal legislation list No 1 and No 2, as many as 15 more ministries will come under the control of the provinces.

Over 50000 employees would also be transferred to the provinces following the abolition of concurrent list. Among them over 30000 employees belong to Punjab, 10000 Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 7000 to 8000 Sindh and 2000 to 3000 Balochistan, AJK and Gilgit and Baltistan. Official sources told development projects worth Rs 200 billion would also be shifted to the provinces in consequence of shifting of control of 23 departments to the provinces. Employees will be transferred to their respective provinces of domicile.

The ministries and departments which will come under the control of provinces include culture, education, environment, food and agriculture, livestock, health, housing and building, industries and production, information technology, Kashmir affairs, labour and manpower, local bodies and rural development, minorities affairs, anti narcotics, population welfare, religious affairs, Zakat, Ushr, science and technology, sports, social welfare and special education, textile industries, women affairs and youth affairs.

Overall 47 items were included in concurrent list and three among them had been incorporated in the federal legislation list one and two while 44 items have been transferred to provinces. They include criminal law, criminal procedure, civil procedure, evidences, marriage, divorce, adoption of children, bankruptcy, arbitration, partnership, agency, trust and trustees, arms, firearms, taking some one under protective custody, explosive material, environmental pollution, population welfare and social welfare, labour and safety regulations in mines, insurance of unemployed persons, syllabus, planning and other matters.