Addressing a press briefing here after the conclusion of the meeting of Inter-Provincial Co-ordination Committee (IPCC) he said that there was unanimity of views among all the major parties on provincial autonomy and the government intends to bring a consensus amendment bill on the issue.
He said that the government has reactivated Council of Common Interests (ICC) and formed IPCC to promote provincial harmony and co-ordination. He said that parliamentary committees headed by Mushahid Hussain Sayed and Wasim Sajjad have done a great job for grant of rights of provinces. He said the Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz has been taking personal interest in Balochistan developmental projects.
Briefing the journalists about the decisions made in the IPCC meeting he said that it was decided with consensus that the jobs quota for the provinces should be allocated on 1998 census rather that the 1972 census. He said that the council will send a summery to the Prime Minister for its implementation. He said that during the meeting it was agreed that provinces marine jurisdiction will he increased from 12 nautical miles to 20 nautical miles.
He said the Centre has agreed to pay 50 percent subsidy for installation of 1150 tubewells for provision of clean drinking water in Balochistan.
He stated that the Balochistan government expressed concern over the grant of licenses to heavy trawlers for fishing in deep waters. He said during the meeting it was decided that the government will encourage to develop our own fishing industry and a fishing policy is on cards.
He said that it was decided that to check misuse of loudspeaker a 1962 law will be amended. According to the prevalent law anybody misusing loudspeaker could only be fined Rs 200 with one month imprisonment. He said now it has been decided that fine will be increased to Rs 1,000 with three-month imprisonment.
He said it has agreed that all the four provinces will do legislation on this issue.
About payment of NWFP's dues related to provision of security staff for federal institutions like Wapda and Radio Pakistan he said that the Federal Government has agreed to make payments. Saifullah said in future IPCC meetings will be held in provincial capitals and the next meeting will be held at Lahore in November.
He said the committee has advised the provinces to bring uniformity in axil load laws. Similarly he said it was decided that vehicle registration system in the country will be centralised.
The Minister said on the request of the Punjab government, the right to grant licenses for fishing in Chashma Barrage has been granted to the Province. He said the meeting advised the provinces to levy maximum Rs 20 to 30 thousand tax on mobile phone towers.
While responding to queries of the newsmen he said that there is no plan of creating new provinces in the country and Dr Sher Afgan's statement on this issue was his personal opinion. The meeting was also attended by ministers of provincial co-ordination from the four provinces and chief secretaries.
Earlier, Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz said the Inter-Provincial Co-ordination Committee (IPCC) has been revived to promote understanding and harmony between provinces and the federation on important national matters. The Prime Minister said this while addressing the inaugural session of the IPCC held here. Shaukat Aziz said the IPCC should focus on important national matters and remove inter-provincial gridlock to become a truly result- and action-oriented institution.
He said the existence of political differences were normal in a democratic dispensation. He, however, said: "We need to have one voice when dealing with issues of national importance and national interest should be kept above political considerations."
He also emphasised the need to inculcate positive attitude and forge unity on national matters. "If there is unity, even the enemy can do no harm to the country," he added. The Prime Minister said: "The country will progress only when we face the challenges with unity."
He said the nation only recently demonstrated the finest example of unity in its ranks when the earthquake struck parts of the country and Azad Jammu & Kashmir (AJK) last year. The Prime Minister said the nation jolted in the wake of massive devastation on October 8, last year and every house, in Sindh, Punjab, Balochistan or NWFP became a relief camp and eager to help those hit by the earthquake.
He said: "This was clearly our finest hour as a nation." He said the country had come a long way from the days when the economy had become virtually bankrupt seven years ago. "Today there is political and economic stability," he said. Shaukat Aziz said: "However, we are faced with several challenges, including further reduction in poverty, more jobs and increasing literacy rate in the country."
"We need to ensure that the fruits of economic growth should reach the common man," he added. The Prime Minister also said that provincial governments should ensure that prices of essential items should remain stable during Ramazan. He said price magistrates should keep a vigilant check on the prices.