ISLAMABAD: A Senate panel on Monday recommended to the government to devolve Ministry of National Food Security and Research to provinces as per the 18th Constitutional Amendment, stating that country’s indigenous fruit has been depleted despite having this ministry.

Senate Functional Committee on Devolution, which met here with Senator Dr. Zarqa Suharwardhy Taimur in the chair, discussed the issues of Ministry of National Food Security and Research besides other agenda items.

The committee was briefed on the role and function of the ministry.

Senator Dr Zarqa said that food and agriculture are provincial subjects, therefore, the ministry should be devolved as per the 18th Amendment.

She also highlighted that despite having a separate ministry, the country’s indigenous fruit has been depleted, and the ministry has failed to undertake any step to protect local production, he said.

Say food and agriculture are provincial subjects, therefore, the ministry should be devolved as per the 18th Amendment

The Chair further added that instead, foreign tree species are being planted, which are not suitable for the national ecosystem and are causing health issues, such as allergies, in Islamabad, she said. To this the committee to have a detailed briefing on the seventeen attached departments of the ministry in next meeting.

Earlier, the committee lamented the Council of Common Interest (CCI) officials for submitting a reply stating that the CCI, being a constitutional forum, is answerable to Parliament, whose directions in a joint sitting are binding on the Council, but not to its Special or Functional Committees. The committee did not agree with the plea of said officials.

Senator Zamir Hussain Ghumro asserted that under Article 153 of the Constitution, the Council of Common Interest is answerable to Parliament, and care an extension of the House.

He further said that the Council of Common Interests is responsible for governing and supervising institutions such as PMDC, Railways, and Wapda, which fall under the Federal Legislative List Part II after the 18th Amendment.

The committee observed that unfortunately, the core responsibilities of the CCI are being controlled and managed by the federal cabinet, directing the CCI to submit annual reports of previous years and asserted that the CCI should regain its legal position and fulfill the responsibilities entrusted by the Constitution. The meeting was attended by senators Poonjo Bheel, Zamir Hussain Ghumro, Fawzia Arshad, Additional Secretary for Ministry of National Food Security and Research Ayesha Khalid and other senior officials of the ministry and the Council of Common Interests.

Published in Dawn, August 6th, 2024