36,931 students await degree attestation, Senate questions HEC

Islamabad: A Senate committee has raised serious questions over the functioning of the Council of Common Interests (CCI), warning that constitutional powers given to provinces after the 18th Amendment are being weakened through the revival of federal ministries on devolved subjects. The Senate Standing Committee on Devolution expressed concern that ministries related to education, health, agriculture, food security, climate change and other provincial matters were recreated at the federal level despite their transfer to provinces under the constitutional process. The committee questioned why federal institutions were continuing to handle matters that were supposed to belong to provinces after the 18th Constitutional Amendment, calling for a review of the entire system. The meeting was held at Parliament House, Islamabad, where Senator Zamir Hussain Ghumro presided over the session. Senators Poonjo Bheel and Jan Muhammad Buledi also attended the meeting. Senator Ghumro said that under the 18th Amendment, a detailed process was completed in 2010 and 2011 to transfer powers from the federal government to provinces. He explained that notifications issued on December 2, 2010, April 15, 2011, and June 29, 2011 resulted in the devolution of 17 ministries dealing with subjects that were shifted to provincial control. According to Senator Ghumro, the recreation of ministries after June 30, 2011, on subjects already transferred to provinces was against the spirit of the Constitution. He specifically pointed towards areas including education, health, national food security, culture, climate change, housing, social initiatives, EOBI, Evacuee Trust matters and Zakat and Ushr related functions. The senator argued that creating federal structures for provincial subjects has increased government expenses at a time when Pakistan is facing financial pressure. He claimed that federal government expenditure has increased to around Rs19,000 billion, while the country’s total tax and non tax revenue stands near Rs20,000 billion. Senator Ghumro said that apart from defence requirements due to security challenges, other federal ministries should have limited budgets according to constitutional responsibilities. He suggested that reducing unnecessary federal administrative structures could save around Rs5,000 to Rs6,000 billion and help reduce dependence on foreign loans. The committee also raised concerns about the ineffective role of the Council of Common Interests, a constitutional body responsible for resolving issues between the federation and provinces. Senator Ghumro said the CCI’s permanent secretariat was not functioning effectively and stressed that the institution must be strengthened to protect provincial rights. The committee decided to form a subcommittee to examine alleged violations related to the implementation of the 18th Amendment, including the revival of ministries and the role of the CCI. Senator Poonjo Bheel said that ministries created on devolved subjects should be abolished because the matter had already been settled through the constitutional process. Senator Jan Muhammad Buledi said the subcommittee should not only review the recreated ministries but also examine why the CCI had become ineffective despite having an important constitutional role. The committee also directed the Establishment Division to avoid making appointments in departments dealing with devolved subjects and ensure that provincial representation is protected in government appointments and promotions. Officials were asked to provide details of appointments in different grades within two weeks and submit a compliance report within 15 days. It emphasized that the federal government should support provinces rather than reduce their constitutional benefits. The committee also reviewed the issue of the Rs46 billion allocation for Quaid-e-Azam’s Mausoleum, which was not released last year and was reportedly transferred to another ministry. The committee directed authorities to provide monthly progress reports regarding the development and maintenance of Mazar-e-Quaid. The committee further sought details about the tenure of federal secretaries and directed the Establishment Division to submit complete records.

ISLAMABAD: The Judicial Commission of Pakistan (JCP), headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan, has recommended the appointment and confirmation of 13 judges for the Lahore High Court (LHC) and the Balochistan High Court (BHC), marking a significant step toward addressing judicial vacancies and strengthening the country’s higher judiciary. The recommendations were made during separate meetings of the Commission held at the Supreme Court building in Islamabad under Article 175A(2) of the Constitution. Alongside judicial appointments, the Commission also reviewed proposed amendments to the Judicial Commission of Pakistan (Appointment of Judges) Rules, 2024. According to an official statement, the Commission decided that the proposed amendments to the appointment rules would be circulated among all remaining members of the Commission, including representatives of the Federal Shariat Court and the country’s high courts, for further consideration before final approval. For the Lahore High Court, the Commission, by a majority vote of its members, recommended the confirmation of Justice Tariq Mahmood Bajwa, who has been serving as an additional judge, as a permanent judge of the court. The JCP also approved the appointment of 10 additional judges for the Lahore High Court. The nominees include Amir Ajam Malik, Asad Ali Bajwa, Barrister Muhammad Usman Ghani Rashid Cheema, Ghulam Sarwar Nihang, Khalid Ibn-i-Aziz, Muhammad Ajmal Khan Zahid, Muhammad Amjad Pervaiz, Munawar Iqbal Duggal, Shireen Imran, and Syed Farhad Ali. All are senior advocates of the Supreme Court with extensive legal experience. For the Balochistan High Court, the Commission recommended the appointment of three additional judges against five vacant positions. The nominees are District and Sessions Judge Allah Dad Roshan, Senior Advocate Muhammad Rauf Atta, and District and Sessions Judge Abdul Qayyum Lehri. The Commission decided not to fill the remaining two vacancies at this stage, leaving the positions open for future consideration. The recommendations will now move through the constitutional appointment process before the judges formally assume office. Legal experts say the appointments are expected to help reduce the growing backlog of cases, improve judicial efficiency and strengthen the administration of justice in both Punjab and Balochistan. The JCP’s latest decisions come at a time when Pakistan’s judiciary continues efforts to enhance institutional capacity through timely appointments and procedural reforms. The proposed amendments to the Judicial Commission Rules are also expected to shape future judicial appointments by introducing greater clarity and consistency to the selection process.

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has resumed issuing visit visas to Pakistani citizens applying through registered travel agents, ending months of uncertainty for travelers and offering fresh hope to families, tourists and business visitors. The move has been confirmed by travel industry representatives and a UAE Embassy official, who said visit visas for holders of ordinary Pakistani passports are once again being processed through authorized travel agencies. The resumption comes after months of delays, stricter scrutiny and a higher rejection rate that had created difficulties for thousands of Pakistani applicants. Although UAE authorities repeatedly maintained that no blanket ban had been imposed on Pakistani nationals, many travelers experienced lengthy processing times and uncertainty over visa approvals. Travel experts say the biggest improvement has been seen in family applications. Pakistani citizens traveling with family members or visiting relatives in the UAE are reportedly receiving faster responses than before, reflecting a more streamlined processing system. Officials from the travel industry also noted that tourism-related bookings have started to recover as confidence returns. Passenger traffic between Pakistan and Dubai, which had dropped significantly during recent regional tensions and stricter visa checks, has begun to increase in recent weeks, although it remains below previous peak levels. Applicants seeking a UAE visit visa are advised to apply only through registered travel agents and ensure all required documents are complete. A valid passport, recent photographs, proof of accommodation or an invitation from a host, return travel arrangements and evidence of sufficient financial resources are among the documents generally required for processing. Industry representatives believe applicants with complete and genuine documentation are more likely to receive approvals, while family applications currently appear to have stronger prospects.