A Supreme Court bench led by Chief Justice Saqib Nisar heard a petition on Friday related to transfer of federal government hospitals to provinces under the 18th Amendment. A counsel informed the bench that the case has been pending with the Lahore High Court (LHC). The lawyer of Sindh government argued that the court had ruled on June 9 for constitution of a larger bench for hearing of the case. The CJP asked which hospitals of Sindh have been under federal control. Jinnah Hospital, National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases and National Institute of Child Health have been under federal control. Sindh’s counsel pleaded in a request for more time for the case. The court adjourned the hearing until January 3, 2019. The 18th Amendment in the Constitution of April 19, 2010 enhanced the provincial autonomy and devolved several federal ministries to the provinces including the portfolio of health. After passage of the amendment scores of federally government hospitals also devolved to the provincial health departments. Published in Daily Times, December 15th 2018.