Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has made a significant decision by reconstituting the Council of Common Interests (CCI) and replacing the finance minister with the foreign minister. The eight-member CCI, constituted under Article 153 of the Constitution, now includes Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, and Safron Minister Amir Muqam.
The CCI, headed by PM Shehbaz, plays a crucial role in decision-making on matters such as the distribution of natural resources where there is disagreement between the Centre and the provinces. This move by the Prime Minister reflects a shift in the traditional roles within the government, as he has also recently formed separate cabinet committees on various economic and strategic issues.
Former chairman Senate Mian Raza Rabbani has commented on the inclusion of the foreign minister in the CCI, calling it “unusual” but “constitutional.” He emphasized that the Prime Minister has the discretion to appoint any cabinet member to the CCI, as outlined in Article 153 of the Constitution.
Rabbani highlighted the importance of the 18th constitutional amendment, which established the structure of the CCI with the Prime Minister, Chief Ministers, and nominated federal cabinet members as members. While the presence of the finance minister in the CCI has been a tradition due to financial matters concerning the provinces, Rabbani noted that the finance minister could still be invited as a special invitee when needed.
Overall, this reconstitution of the CCI underlines the evolving dynamics within the government and the Prime Minister’s strategic approach to decision-making and governance.