By IANS,
Islamabad : A civil society organisation has demanded that the Pakistan government right-size the cabinet after seven ministries were devolved but their ministers were retained.
“Retaining ministers after devolving their portfolios is not only an undue burden on the national exchequer, it is also against the spirit of devolution,” said the Pakistan Institute of Legislative Development and Transparency Wednesday.
The government has decided that the ministers left without a portfolio due to the devolution would be given new assignments.
“It is rather strange and questionable that the prime minister has decided to retain ministers despite devolving portfolios as paying ministers without any job or work,” the Dawn quoted the civil society organisation as saying.
The seven ministries being devolved are health, environment, sports, food and agriculture, women’s development, labour and manpower, and minorities affairs.
A commission had identified 17 ministries for devolution. In the first and second phase, 10 ministries were wound up and their functions were devolved or reassigned. In the third phase, the seven ministries were being wound up and their functions being devolved or reassigned.