Centralizing power

The caretaker federal government has drafted a proposal to amend the Indus River System Authority (Irsa) Act 1992. The proposal reportedly seeks to curtail the powers of Irsa and place it under an expert committee with a chairperson who will have unprecedented powers.

This would effectively centralize control over Irsa and tilt the balance away from provincial representatives in the water regulator. Though the current president has thus far refused to sign the amendment, if it does become law it would, in my view, be in violation of the constitution. The federal government has to stay within the legal limits

Atif Mallah

Dadu