Finance Minister Abdul Hafeez Sheikh. — Photo by AFP

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Finance Dr Hafeez Shaikh said on Saturday that five ministries would be abolished in the federal capital and shifted to the provinces under the devolution process within the next few weeks.

After inaugurating the seminar “Making the 18th Amendment and NFC Award Work,” the federal minister told media representatives that additional five ministries from the centre would be shifted to provinces by the end of 2010.

The ministries to be shifted to provinces under the 18th Amendment include Population Welfare, Youth Affairs, Local Bodies and Rural Development, Zakat and Usher, Special Initiatives, Culture and Tourism, Special Education, Social Welfare, Special Education and Minorities’ Affairs.

The finance minister said the ministries that are to be shifted within weeks included among others Youth Affairs, Special Initiatives and Zakat and Usher.

To a question about abolishing the tax exemptions from various sectors, Hafeez Shaikh said that efforts would be made to implement taxes according to the spirit of the upcoming new Reformed General Sales Tax bill.

The RGST Bill is scheduled to be taken up for discussion in the parliament during its upcoming session starting from November 1.

Earlier, speaking at the inaugural session, the federal minister described the conference as timely to deal with the critical issues facing the nation after the passage of 18th Amendment and the National Finance Commission award which would have impact on the economy.

He said that responsibilities were being shifted to provinces which of course was a great task.

He said the NFC Award was long over-due and the current award has fixed multiple criteria for the distribution of funds which he said was the long-standing demand of the provinces adding that the provinces would be getting share of 56 per cent from the resources.

He expressed the hope that the conference would come out with practical recommendations and guidelines to make the 18th Amendment and the NFC Award work. The government would consider the recommendations forwarded by the forum, he added.

The two-day conference was being organised by Forum of Federations, the global network of federations and Center for Civic Education Pakistan aiming at utilising international experience for implementing and resolving the confronting relevant issues.

The conference was being participated by known economists, professionals, analysts and technocrats from within the country and abroad.

The speakers on the occasion, described the unanimous passage of the 18th Amendment and the 7th NFC Award as historical achievements and urged their implementation in letter and spirit. — APP