Seminar on 18th Eighteenth Amendment, University of Peshawar
- Wednesday, February 8, 2012, 10:59
- News, Peshawer University, University
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Department of Political Science, University of Peshawar hosted a one day seminar on “18th Amendment Prospects for Center Province Relation”. Senator and member of the 18th amendment Afrasiab khattak discussed the key aspects of the 18th amendments and the challenges for the provinces after getting autonomy.
According to the member of 18th amendment it is a mile stone in the history of the country, where some 17 ministries have come under full or partial control of provincial government. He spot lighted the separation of Pakistan and then separation of East Bengal and termed it as a result of the deprivation of the people of these states.
The senator and member of 18th amendment said that before drafting the implementation of 18th amendment, every member of the fourteen political parties, sitting in the parliament, was consulted and after a process of contemplation, every one had addressed the issue with national interest.
He also said that devolution process would empower the provinces to utilize their own resources in line with the needs and welfare of the people and if the provinces were not able to do so, would be their failure. It was also mentioned that 57 percent of the Seventh NFC award will be given to provinces.
The government is out lining score of other plans to maintain the 18th amendment. Currently 80 percent of the annual budget goes to defense, administration and debt services and the remaining is spent for other sectors that are why most of the sectors like health and education are lagging much behind. This quagmire has made the state a national security state, instead of national welfare state, he added.
Mentioning the role of HEC after 18th amendment he said that till that time higher education commission was working on the directive of center after some time HEC would come under the direct supervision of provincial government.
In response to a question the senator said that FATA is not consider part of a state body, was not consider because of the reason that FATA was given second priority. He added that the amendment in FCR was a good step in brining them in the mainstream of state body. We welcome FATA being a separate province on the condition if people of FATA had the same hope.
Vice chancellor Professor Dr. Azmat Hayat khan termed this occasion very important regarding the implantation of 18th amendment which will be pursued by provincial government. Provincial autonomy was insured in 1973 constitution to be implemented with in 10 years but instead to strive for this, the process was intercepted and delayed.
On the occasion provincial minister of higher education said that it was a wrong notion that devolution was harmful for education in the country. He added that the devolution would help students largely.
Professor Dr. A. Z. Hilali organizer of the seminar appreciated guest speaker and other participants.
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