Over-centralization not good for country: Salim
By Khalid Amin

ISLAMABAD—Federal Minister for Inter-Provincial Coordination Salim Saifullah Khan has said that over-centralization is not good for the country as it has created problems.
Emhasizing the need for decentralization he said in an interview that time had come to deliberate upon all the contentious issues with “open heart” as all the parliamentarians wanted transfer of more powers to the provinces. He said that after thorough deliberations on the issue of provincial autonomy with representatives of all the political parties, concrete steps should be taken to meet the aspirations of the provinces.
“The matter does not belong to PML alone but it is a national issue and every one has the responsibility to work for securing national interests,” he said. Salim Saifullah said there were provisions in 1973 Constitution on provincial autonomy. “But unfortunately the previous regimes never paid any heed to the vital issue and made no serious efforts for its resolution,” he added.
The Ministry of Inter-Provincial Coordination during the last one year did a lot of work on the vital issue of provincial autonomy and held meetings with all the political parties to resolve the issue to some extent but the bill could not be tabled before the National Assembly due to an uncertain situation in the country, he said. The Minister said that institutions like the Council of Common Interests, National Economic Council and National Finance Commission should be made more active.
He said the tendency of treating these national issues like “holy cows” should be stopped now and a sustained comprehensive approach should be adopted for achieving consensus.
The Minister said the present government deserves credit for bringing the dormant issue into limelight. He said that strong provinces would guarantee a strong Pakistan and a stable democracy. To a question about performance of Ministry of IPC, he said that the ministry held four meetings during the last one year.
He said that the Ministry enhanced job quota of the people of Balochistan in federal services from 3.5 percent to six percent besides resolving the issue of subsidy on drinking water tube wells. He said that the issues of fishery and water between Balochistan and Sindh have been resolved besides development of inland coastal fishing industry of Balochistan and Sindh to promote and protect the fishermen of Balochistan who are adversely affected by piracy of tuna fish resources.
The issue of distribution of tax revenue has also been resolved and now provincial had 50 percent share of the divisible pool as against 33 percent in the past, he said. The Minister said that the issue of transfer of fishing rights in Chashma Barrage waters from Ministry of Water and Power and WAPDA to the Punjab province has also been resolved. Same fishing rights have been given to NWFP at Tarbela reservoir. For public convenience, check posts on either side of the Attock Bridge on Indus River were abolished, he added.
To a question about Kalabagh dam, the Minister said that there was no pressure on provinces about construction of the dam and it would be constructed after consensus. He said that Kalabagh dam was a technical issue but unfortunately it has been converted into a political issue. He said that construction of more dams was a must for strengthening the economy and country.