A functional Council of Common Interests (CCI) with its rules of business, consistent National Finance Commission (NFC) Award governed through subordinate legislation, and devolution of political, financial, and administrative authority empowering local governments are imperative to create the right environment to renew Pakistan’s commitment to federalism, uphold the constitution’s mandate, and protect its basics for the next 50 years.
This was highlighted by veteran statesmen, jurists, and constitutional experts during the concluding session of the two-day conference on ‘The Constitution of Pakistan: Lessons for Next 50 Years’ co-organized by the Institute of Policy Studies (IPS), Islamabad, and the Department of Law, Fatima Jinnah Women University (FJWU), Rawalpindi.
The conference was addressed, among others, by Raja Zafar-ul-Haq, former senator, Khalid Rahman, chairman IPS, Owais Ahmed Ghani, former governor, Balochistan and KP, AmanullahKanrani, Balochistan’s interim law minister, DrSaima Hamid, former vice chancellor, FJWU, Prof Dr ShoaibAkhtar, dean, FJWU, AftabMemon, former federal secretary, ministry of interprovincial coordination, Inayatuallah Khan, former minister for local governments, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Lt Gen (r) Naeem Khalid Lodhi, former federal minister for national security, Ahmed Bilal Mehboob, president, PILDAT, Prof Dr Aziz-ur-Rahman, director, School of Law, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, Dr Nadia Khadam, head, Department of Law, FJWU, and Prof DrFakhr-ul-Islam, advisor research IPS and former DG, Pakistan Study Centre, University of Peshawar.
Emphasizing the fundamental principles upon which Pakistan was founded – unity amidst diversity and a strong federal structure – the speakers highlighted concerns related to the Council of Common Interests (CCI) and National Finance Commission (NFC) Award, underscoring the need for meaningful reforms.
As the 1973 Constitution inherently carries the characteristic of federalism, aimed at safeguarding provincial rights and fostering equitable socio-economic development, this unity remains pivotal to Pakistan’s survival.
However, there are rising concerns about the functionality of the CCI, meant to safeguard and protect the rights of the provinces, as its secretariat remains nonfunctional for all practical purposes, said Inayatullah Khan.
