ISLAMABAD: As the quota system devised over 40 years ago to allocate jobs among all the provinces expired in 2013, the federal cabinet on Tuesday brought the controversial issue to the limelight when it decided to revise the quota regime across the country.

In 1973, a quota system was devised to ensure that underdeveloped provinces were not left out of federal jobs. But the system has not been in force for the past four years and successive governments have made unsuccessful efforts to extend it through a constitutional amendment.

However, instead of approving an extension in the quota regime, the cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi decided to “revise” the system because those in attendance felt that underdeveloped and backward areas, including Balochistan and the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata), could not be brought on a par with the developed ones by only granting jobs.

“The meeting decided to revise the quota regime, which is [currently] only aimed at provision of jobs on the basis of provincial quotas, as well as upgrading basic facilities like healthcare, education, infrastructure and shelter in neglected and remote areas,” a cabinet member told Dawn on the condition of anonymity.

Issue to be debated in CCI and parliament

The cabinet member said the prime minister was of the view that underdeveloped areas had been neglected for over 40 years, but one had to take an initiative and make efforts to bring them on a par with the developed areas of the country.

The meeting agreed that the issue of quota system should be taken to the Council of Common Interests (CCI) — where all four provinces have equal representation — and a debate should also be held on the issue in parliament.

Minister for Privatisation Daniyal Aziz gave a detailed briefing on the quota system and the underdeveloped areas of the country.

Mr Abbasi and his cabinet colleagues agreed that the neglected areas could not be upgraded by allocating a job quota alone as development of such areas through investment was necessary.

The meeting was informed that the provinces were supposed to improve all services — healthcare, education, labour, tourism, human rights — devolved to them following the 18th amendment to the Constitution, but they did nothing to improve such facilities.

A brief statement issued by the Prime Minister Office said: “A detailed presentation was made on the existing provincial quota regime which is being followed during recruitment process for the posts of Central Superior Services [CSS] and other vacancies at the federal level. It was decided that the matter should be discussed in detail on the floor of the parliament as well as at the forum of Council of Common Interests.”

It said the PM directed the establishment division to undertake a comprehensive review of the quota regime “focusing on the impact of the policy so far and also to propose suitable amendments to make the policy more effective and result-oriented”.

Interestingly, the quota system has been ineffective for the last four years. In 2013, the federal cabinet led by then prime minister Nawaz Sharif decided to extend the system for the CSS posts for 20 more years — till 2033 — but the decision could not be implemented.

The then cabinet had approved an amendment to a provision of Article 27(1) of the Constitution, which suggested that “in the interest of national integrity and harmony, adequate representation in the service of Pakistan for persons belonging to any class or area is only possible when the period is further extended”.

The provision provides for merit and regional quota for fulfilment of direct recruitment to posts in the federal government.

Earlier, the cabinet of former prime minister Raja Pervez Ashraf had also decided in principle to extend the period for another 20 years (up to 2033), but the decision could not be implemented.

The original, 1973 Constitution had fixed a period of 10 years for the job quota for provinces, but the governments in the 1980s and 1990s enhanced it to 40 years.

When the initial 10-year period expired in 1983, military dictator Gen Ziaul Haq amended the Constitution after a cabinet decision and extended the period to 20 years. This act was later provided a constitutional cover through the controversial Eighth Amendment. The 20-year extended period expired in 1993 during the first government of Mr Sharif but the federal cabinet decided to continue with the job quota for provinces in federal government departments.

Despite the cabinet’s decision, the Constitution was not amended till 1999. Through the 16th Constitution Amendment Act 1999, the period was extended from 20 to 40 years during the second government of Mr Sharif.

Politicians from smaller provinces often allege that during the 1993-99 period an imbalance was created in the allocation of jobs and it has still not been corrected even after the amendment.

The cabinet also took several other decisions including signing of a negotiated draft visa abolition agreement between Pakistan and Italy for the holders of diplomatic passports.

The meeting granted approval to amend the existing convention between Pakistan and Sri Lanka, Nepal, France, Tunisia, Morocco and Portugal for the avoidance of double taxation and prevention of fiscal evasion with respect to taxes on income for updating article of exchange of information.

The cabinet also approved signing of a memorandum of understanding on scientific and technical cooperation in the field of agriculture research between the Pakistan Agriculture Research Council and Agriculture Academy of Bulgaria.

Published in Dawn, October 11th, 2017