ISLAMABAD: The Council of Common Interests (CCI) is likely to approve the controversial Census-2017 at its meeting to be held on Wednesday (Jan 27) with Prime Minister Imran Khan in the chair.

The PM has called the 44th meeting of the CCI to discuss various issues, including the issue of notification of Census-2017 results.

The federal cabinet, after a lapse of three years, had approved the National Census with a dissenting note submitted by the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), one of the government’s allies.

The MQM has been raising its voice against the Census-2017 and delimitation of constituencies in Karachi.

After approving the census, the cabinet had decided to send its report to the CCI to get its final nod with consensus of the provinces.

The CCI will also discuss a matter concerning the Higher Education Commission in light of the 18th Amendment. Through the 18th Amendment, education was devolved to the provinces. Punjab and Sindh had already constituted their own higher education regulatory bodies.

The CCI meeting will also discuss establishment of its permanent secretariat, annual report of 2019-20 of the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra), implementation status of previous CCI decisions, Nepra’s annual report of 2018-19, State of Industry Report, 2019, and an amendment to the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority Ordinance, 2002.

The issues of windfall levy on crude oil and natural gas under Petroleum Policy, 2012, funding of developed vertical programmes of health and population welfare, harmonisation of standards and enforcement mechanism between the Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority and provincial food authorities are also part of the agenda.

The prime minister is chairman of the CCI and its meetings are mainly attended by chief ministers and chief secretaries of the provinces.

Published in Dawn, January 25th, 2021