Islamabad: Chairman Senate Mian Raza Rabbani while addressing at a session of International Conference on Federation ” From Decentralization to Federalism “at Manila Plilippines has said that 18 constitutional amendment was milestone in constitutional history of Pakistan and a Parliamentary Committee of all parties in both Houses was formed and even parties with single membership were accommodated.
He informed the participants that Committee invited suggestions from the public and received 921 amendments to the Constitution and this was in addition to the constitutional package given by the political parties.
The Committee took nine months i.e. 389 hours of deliberations to finalize its unanimous amendments, he said, addingthat102 Articles of the Constitution were amended.
He said that concurrent List having 48 Items was devolved to the Provinces. He said that this was the biggest structural change in the Government after the creation of Pakistan, 1947and the Constitution was amended to give 50% ownership of the natural resources of oil and gas to the Province in which they were found.
While shedding light on the salient features, Raza Rabbani further said that Provinces have been allowed to raise foreign loans within parameters set by the government and the National Finance Commission Award has been made more effective and a lower limit has been set.
