President Alvi blocks move to neutralise Irsa’s powers

President Arif Alvi has blocked promulgation of an ordinance, moved by the caretaker government just before the end of its term that apparently sought to neutralise the powers of the Indus River System Authority (Irsa) bypassing the Council of Common Interests (CCI). Informed sources said the president rejected the proposed amendments to the 1991 Irsa Act on the grounds that such a critical matter involving the interests and rights of the federating units should not be considered in haste by an unrepresentative administration. The proposed amendments meant diluting the collective powers of Irsa, comprising four provincial and a federal member. It also sought to restrict the provinces to hold the position of Irsa Chairman, currently on annual rotation basis and instead replace it with a chairman always to be appointed by the federal government.