Devolved ministries unimportant: Sana

LAHORE Provincial Minister Law and Parliamentary Affairs Rana Sanaullah Khan has said the divisions and ministries being devolved to Punjab by the federation are unimportant since the federal government has held back heads with it having assets of billions of rupees. The Punjab government will raise this issue in the Council of Common Interests and if it did not implement, then Punjab government will move to Supreme Court against the non-constitutional step of federal government, he said, while addressing a press conference here on Wednesday. Provincial Minister Zakat and Usher Malik Nadeem Kamran and Minister Industries Dost Muhammad Khosa were also present on the occasion. Rana Sana said undoubtedly elimination of concurrent list was an important step towards promoting provincial autonomy and democratic process. However, non-transfer of departments having assets of billions of rupees to Punjab province is the dishonesty of federal government, he said, while mentioning examples of the Evacuee Property Board, Workers Welfare Fund, EOBI and institutions like Sheikh Zayed Hospital, which were yet to be transferred to the province. The province should have more share of the Pakistan Sports Board, but the federal government is refusing the right, he said. He pointed out that Chief Minister had also written a letter to prime minister in this regard, but no response from the prime minister had been received so far. The Punjab government will continue its struggle for the protection of its rights, he said.