Senate devolution body agrees to abolish industry, energy ministries

The Senate Functional Committee on Devolution at its meeting on Monday unanimously agreed to abolish the ministries of Industries and Production and Energy (petroleum division) and recommended to devolve their responsibilities to provinces. The committee meeting, chaired by Senator Zarqa Suharwardy, says further recommendations on the distribution of responsibilities to provinces or the Council of Common Interests will be made subsequently. During the briefing on the performance of the Ministry of Industries and Production over the last two financial years, the committee noted that the ministry had become a provincial subject. However, the additional secretary of the ministry of industries and production suggested that the ministry of law and justice could provide a more informed opinion on this matter.