Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research, Rana Tanveer Hussain, has said that revisiting the 18th Constitutional Amendment has become “the need of the hour” to meet modern governance and administrative challenges. Speaking to journalists in Sheikhupura, the minister stated that while the amendment was a landmark reform, it has created structural complications that now demand a careful and balanced review.
Passed in 2010 under the PPP-led government, the 18th Amendment devolved powers to provinces on subjects including health, education, women’s development, and local government. It also revised the National Finance Commission (NFC) Award, allocating 57.5% of federal revenues to provinces. The PPP, however, has consistently opposed any attempts to alter the amendment, calling it vital to Pakistan’s federal balance.
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Rana Tanveer also announced that the NFC Award would be updated before the next local government elections to better reflect contemporary fiscal realities. On regional issues, he reaffirmed Pakistan’s support for the people of Indian-occupied Jammu and Kashmir and urged India to honour UN resolutions, while calling on Afghanistan to cooperate in combating terrorism and avoid external influence.
