VOICES are being heard from certain politicians vowing to block any attempt to roll back the 18th Amendment, under which billions of rupees have been transferred by the federation to the provinces each year. This is done to take care of the functions devolved to the provinces, such as education, healthcare, etc.

No one knows where these billions provided by the centre to the provinces, including Sindh, have gone as they have not been channelised to the purpose for which they were meant. The state of education, healthcare and other segments is not only pathetic but has deteriorated over the past few years. The amendment has clipped the powers of the federation. Further, it has strained federation finances, including foreign exchange resources, by allowing the provinces to invite foreign sponsors for provincial projects, the debt servicing obligation. This is a cause for the mounting deficit in the budget and the rise in national indebtedness. Some call the amendment a poor piece of legislation.

Erum A Baig
Karachi

Published in Dawn, April 20th, 2018