Five ministers lose portfolios to devolution

E-Paper | March 12, 2026

In May this year, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani had constituted a nine-member commission, headed by Senator Raza Rabbani, to oversee the implementation process of the 18th Amendment. – File Photo

ISLAMABAD: With the devolution of five ministries to the provinces under the 18th Amendment, four ministers and a minister of state have lost their portfolios. The federal cabinet had on Dec 1 approved the devolution of these ministries to the provinces.

The cabinet division said on Saturday that Dr Firdaus Ashiq Awan, Minister for Population Welfare; Lal Mohammad Khan, Minister for Special Initiatives; Shahid Hussain Bhutto, Minister for Youth Affairs; Noorul Haq Qadri, Minister for Zakat and Ushr; and Masood Abbas, Minister of State for Local Government and Rural Development, had ceased to hold their portfolios from Dec 7.

However, Dr Firdous Awan, who is currently holding an additional charge of the Ministry of Women Development, will continue to enjoy perks of a federal minister.

The next round of devolution of five more ministries to the provinces will be completed by the end of June.

In May this year, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani had constituted a nine-member commission, headed by Senator Raza Rabbani, to oversee the implementation process of the 18th Amendment.

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Asad Alam

Dec 12, 2010 09:57am

Some good news. Well done.

Recommend 0

Dr.Kamar.Afghan-Lond

Dec 14, 2010 05:41pm

What good news! There are already a large number of cronies sitting in ministries enjoyining perks of all sorts which has led to corruption in the countries.This nepotism politics must stop.Pakistan does not need those ministers who are corrupt,inefficient and useless.We saw all this in recent tragedy in flood affected Sindhaccording to BBC TV documentry.These ministers are a burden on the economy of ther country.There should be a real devolution t provinces and the important ministries must go to the provinces,only Foreign affairs,Finance,Defence and communication stay with the centre.There should be no adviseres and state ministers in both central and provincial governments.By doing this and reforming the tax system we will have no reason to beg and borough which has been norm of all the governments of this country.

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Usman Ghani

Dec 14, 2010 05:37pm

It is good initiate taken by the PM. There is still need to cut army of ministeries. We should follow example of developed countries, whose cabnit is highly reasonable.

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