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KARACHI: The PML-N has hinted at \u201cmaking changes\u201d to the 18th Constitutional Amendment with key focus on reshaping the revenue distribution mechanism among provinces, sources privy to the development told Dawn<\/em>.<\/p>\n The manifesto committee has received several proposals, ranging from reversing the 18th Amendment altogether to changing the distribution mechanism of financial resources among provinces.<\/p>\n The party is set to enter the election campaign with the promise to amend the constitutional provision and also make it part of its manifesto, set to be unveiled next month.<\/p>\n The 18th Amendment, passed during the PPP-led government in 2010, devolved powers to provinces in key areas of public services, including health, women development, social welfare and local government.<\/p>\n Party leaders rule out reversal, hint at \u2018key changes\u2019 in resource distribution<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Under the Amendment, provinces\u2019 share of federal resources was set at 57.5 per cent. The federal government would spend the remaining on debt servicing, development programmes, defence, etc.<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s a very strong feeling, rather conviction, among the party\u2019s top leadership that the current arrangements of financial resources distribution among the provinces [under the 18th Amendment to the Constitution] has created unsustainable financial problems,\u201d said a PML-N source.<\/p>\n The PML-N leadership, which recently set up a committee to draft the manifesto for the Feb 8 polls, is \u201cseriously toying with ideas and proposals\u201d it has received from party members.<\/p>\n \u201cSo far, it\u2019s believed that the party would not go for an outright reversal of the 18th Amendment, but it would address its key features and reshape the distribution mechanism of financial resources among the provinces. You would hopefully see it as part of the PML-N manifesto,\u201d said the source.<\/p>\n While talking to Dawn<\/em>, a senior PML-N leader confirmed that several such proposals were under consideration.<\/p>\n One of them suggested the National Finance Commission\u2019s (NFC) restructuring to ensure that resources transferred to provinces reach grassroots levels, i.e. local government in cities, the senior leader added.<\/p>\n Senator Irfan Siddiqui, who is heading PML-N\u2019s manifesto committee, and party spokesperson Marriyum Aurangzeb did not respond to Dawn\u2019s<\/em> repeated requests for comments.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, another party leader said that recent meetings between leaderships of PML-N and other parties to form electoral alliances further encouraged the party\u2019s high command to go for \u201cmassive reforms\u201d in every key area of governance for the smooth functioning of the state.<\/p>\n \u201cThe party, through these reforms, which would be proposed in the manifesto, aims to contain corruption and better civic amenities reaching the people at the grassroots level.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIn the name of provincial autonomy, we have seen that provinces are absolved after receiving their share under the NFC award, while payment of interest and principal instalments of loans, provision of money under the defence budget, matters of deficit-hit national institutions, payment of current account deficit and many other financial affairs become centre\u2019s sole responsibility,\u201d added the PML-N leader.<\/p>\n He referred to the media talk of another senior party leader, Khawaja Saad Rafiq, after meeting with MQM-P leaders in Karachi, where he clearly hinted at constitutional reforms for an improved justice system and transfer of power at the grassroots level to empower local governments.<\/p>\n PPP\u2019s concerns<\/strong><\/p>\n The PPP, which takes credit for the Amendment and calls it \u201can achievement\u201d, has robustly resisted any changes proposed in the provision.<\/p>\n Senior party leaders have also expressed apprehension that \u201cconspiracies are afoot to roll back the amendment\u201d.<\/p>\n These fears might materialise if PML-N \u2014 which was PPP\u2019s ally in the centre till three months ago \u2014 comes into power after the general elections on Feb 8.<\/p>\n However, the party has vowed to \u201cresist such a move with full force.\u201d<\/p>\n While reacting strongly to PML-N\u2019s proposed plans, PPP said Nawaz Sharif would only \u201cmake his political future bleak\u201d through such moves.<\/p>\n The demands for making changes to the 18th Amendment have been reverberating in the corridors of power for the past few years.<\/p>\n During their government from 2018 to 2022, former prime minister Imran Khan and key PTI leaders have repeatedly proclaimed their desire to fix the anomalies in the resource distribution mechanism.<\/p>\n In 2020, ex-PM Khan said the 10-year-old amendment \u201cneeded to be fixed\u201d along with the NFC. He said several administrative issues have arisen after the Amendment, and the centre was helpless in fixing them.<\/p>\n Published in Dawn, November 20th, 2023<\/em><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" KARACHI: The PML-N has hinted at \u201cmaking changes\u201d to the 18th Constitutional Amendment with key focus on reshaping the revenue distribution mechanism among provinces, sources privy to the development told Dawn. The manifesto committee has received several proposals, ranging from reversing the 18th Amendment altogether to changing the distribution mechanism of financial resources among provinces. 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