February 21; The two day Workshop for the Honourable Parliamentarians on Consolidating Democratic Devolution in Pakistan after the 18th Amendment ended successfully in Bhurban. Honourable Syed Naveed Qamar, MNA chaired the second day of the Workshop.

Mr. David Albert Peloquin, Consultant, Forum of Federations, briefed the participants on Inter Governmental Relations in Federal countries. He gave a comparative analysis of myths and practices in the process of Federalism and Fiscal Management. He was of the viewpoint that Pakistan (like many other countries) is no stranger to major regional disparities in income and wealth (and in the access to private goods and services they procure). Decentralization to the provincial/local level can increase disparities in access to public goods and services as well.

Mr. Ahmad M. Zahid, Former Federal Secretary, said that an overly centrist mindset poses the biggest challenge to implementing the devolution processes effectively. This was argued on the misperception of administrative capacity of the provinces also to run these activities smoothly God knows this mindset was the outcome of the provision of the Constitution of 1962 or whether those provisions were the reflection of our psyche at the time and which still haunts us.

Earlier, Mr. Faheem Ahmed Khan, Projects Manager PILDAT, welcomed the participants of the Workshop and introduced the eminent Speakers of the second day of the Workshop.

Upon conclusion, Mr. Peitro Merlo, Senior Advisor Forum of Federations, thanked the participants and hoped that the Honourable Parliamentarians will benefit from the Workshop. He further said that the process of Devolution is vital to effective functioning of a system; more steps are needed for proper implementation of the open issues in Pakistan Federal system. Mr. Merlo said that the open issues are not easy to achieve and all Political stakeholders should engage to target the goal for a more peaceful Pakistan. The forum is eager to further monitor training sessions. In the end he thanked the Parliamentarians for active contribution and participation in the Workshop. He also appreciated PILDAT�s support and effort for providing excellent conditions to organize the event.

Parliamentarians who joined the Workshop included: Honourable Mr. Sajid Nawaz, MNA (NA- 3, Peshawar-III, KP, PTI), Honourable Mr. Siraj Muhammad Khan, MNA (NA-6, Nowshera-II, KP, PTI), Honourable Mr. Salim Rehman, MNA (NA-30, Swat-II, KP, PTI), Honourable Mr. Iftikhar Uddin, MNA (NA-32, Chitral, KP, APML), Honourable Mr. Bismillah Khan, MNA (NA-43, Tribal Area-VIII, FATA, IND), Honourable Shah Jee Gul Afridi, MNA (NA-45, Tribal Area-X, FATA, IND), Honourable Malik Ihtebar Khan, MNA (NA-58, Attock-II, Punjab, PML-N), Honourable Malik Shakir Bashir Awan, MNA (NA-70, Khushab-II, PML-N), Honourable Mr. Talal Chaudrhy, MNA (NA-76, Faisalabad-II, Punjab, PML-N), Honourable Rana Mohammad Afzal, MNA (NA-82, Faisalabad-VIII, Punjab, PML-N), Honourable Molana Ameer Zaman, MNA (NA-263, Loralai, Balochistan, JUI-F), Honourable Mrs. Khalida Mohsin Qureshi, MNA (NA-281, Punjab- IX, PML-N), Honourable Ms. Maiza Hameed, MNA (NA-290, Punjab- XVIII, PML-N), Honourable Mrs. Shaheen Shafiq, MNA (NA-292, Punjab- XX, PML-N), Honourable Mrs. Naeema Kishwer Khan, MNA (NA-327, KP VII, JUI-F), Honourable Ms. Aisha Saeed, MNA (NA-329, KP-VIII, JI), Honourable Mrs. Shahida Rehmani, MNA (NA-308, Sindh � I, PPPP), Honourable Dr. Ramesh Kumar Vankwani, MNA (NA-334, Karachi, Sindh, PML-N), Honourable Mr. Khalil George, MNA (NA-337, Quetta, Balochistan, PML-N), Honourable Mr. Lal Chand Malhi, MNA (NA-339, Umerkot, Sindh- VII, PTI) and Honourable Senator Farah Aqil (ANP, KP), Honourable Senator Dr. Mohammad Jehangir Badar (PPPP, Punjab), Honourable Senator Nisar Mohammad Khan, (PML-N, KP), Honourable Senator Afrasiab Khattak, (ANP, KP), Honourable Senator Hamayun Khan Mandokhel (IND, Balochistan), Honourable Senator Saeed Ul Hassan Mandokhel, (Balochistan, PML), Honourable Senator Khalida Parveen (PPPP, Punjab) and Honourable Senator Zafar Ali Shah (PML-N, ICT).

Following Discussion Papers were also shared among participants as backgrounder on Federalism:
Historical Evolution of Federalism in Pakistan  [English Version]   [Urdu Version]

Inter-Governmental Relations in Pakistan Evolution and Potential with Relation to 18th Amendment  [English Version]   [Urdu Version]

Pakistan Fiscal Management And Accountability [English Version] These workshops are part of the project funded by the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade & Development of the Government of Canada.