Islamabad, October 13,2026: The Senate Functional Committee on Devolution has directed the Petroleum Division to develop a comprehensive mechanism for implementing the constitutional provision on joint and equal control of provinces and the federal government over oil and gas resources, and submit a report within 15 days.
The committee, chaired by Senator Zamir Hussain Ghumro, also called for strict enforcement of provincial quotas in federal services, including recruitment and promotions from Basic Pay Scale (BPS) 1 to 22, and constituted a subcommittee to examine the issue.
The meeting, held at Parliament Lodges on Tuesday, was attended by Senators Jan Muhammad Buledi and Poonjo Bheel, secretaries of the Cabinet Division, Council of Common Interests (CCI) and Establishment Division, senior officials of the Establishment Division and officers from the Petroleum Division.
During discussions on Article 38(g) of the Constitution, the committee reviewed provincial representation in federal ministries, divisions, attached departments, sub-offices, corporations, statutory bodies and autonomous institutions.
The chair observed that provincial representation, particularly from Balochistan, remained inadequate at senior administrative levels across the federal setup. He stressed that recruitment and promotions must follow constitutional provisions and ensure equitable representation of all provinces.
The Secretary Establishment Division assured the committee that provincial shares would be calculated and vacancies filled, particularly to address Balochistan’s underrepresentation. He said all employees drawing salaries from the federal government fell within the provincial quota framework.
Senator Ghumro said the Establishment Division had issued letters to federal ministries, divisions and the Federal Public Service Commission (FPSC) to prioritize filling posts allocated to Sindh and Balochistan. However, the committee was informed that the required compliance reports had not been submitted.
The committee directed the Establishment Division to develop a mechanism ensuring provincial representation in all categories of appointments, including promotions, and submit a compliance report within two weeks. It also expressed concern over the absence of FPSC representatives despite the commission’s role in federal recruitment.
On Article 172(3), the committee expressed dissatisfaction over the lack of a comprehensive operational framework for joint and equal management of oil and gas resources, 16 years after the passage of the 18th Constitutional Amendment.
The chair criticized delays in addressing the issue and said repeated referrals to the Council of Common Interests without tangible progress undermined the intent of constitutional devolution.
The committee directed the Petroleum Division, in consultation with the provinces, to formulate an actionable mechanism for joint and equal control of natural gas and petroleum resources. It also proposed that provinces could receive half of the profits earned by oil and gas companies or be allocated half of the relevant oil and gas wellheads, as possible options for ensuring their constitutional rights.
During a briefing on the financial implications of devolved subjects and the 7th National Finance Commission Award, the committee also raised concerns over public finances. It noted that federal expenditure stood at around Rs19 trillion against total national tax and non-tax revenue of approximately Rs20 trillion, and called for a drastic reduction in expenditure.
The committee issued show-cause notices to provincial energy secretaries and the FPSC over their absence from the meeting, warning that strict action could follow. The chair said the lack of attention to provincial representation in federal services and the sharing of oil and gas resources raised serious questions about the commitment of the relevant authorities to protecting provincial rights.
