News
Saturday, October 16, 2010
No cut in funds for Balochistan despite financial constraints: PM* Gilani says Rs 1.5 billion have been released to NHA to build roads in Balochistan
* Gwadar will be linked to other parts of country
Staff Report
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani on Friday said that despite the difficult economic situation, especially in the aftermath of the devastating floods in the country, there would be no cut in the Public Sector Development Funds for Balochistan.
He said the government was committed to the development of Balochistan so that its resources could be optimally utilised for the benefits of the people and also for the overall development of the country. The PM expressed these views at a high-level meeting with a delegation from Balochistan, led by Chief Minister Nawab Aslam Raisani, at the PM’s House.
The prime minister said the equitable distribution of funds, including the foreign assistance for reconstruction and rehabilitation among provinces, was to be ensured after damage need assessment and in consultation with all stakeholders.
He said for improving the communication system and building roads in Balochistan, the federal government had released Rs 1.5 billion to the National Highways Authority (NHA).
He said development of communication network to link Gwadar with other parts of the country could serve the purpose of making it a hub for economic activities that would in turn ensure better quality of life to the people living there.
The prime minister also assured the chief minister that he would ask the federal minister for water and power to work out a reasonable solution for providing relief to the farmers in Balochistan in their tube well electricity bills. Gilani also directed speeding up the process of provision of national identity cards in Balochistan, especially in the flood hit areas so that the difficulties of the flood-affected people could be mitigated without any hindrance.
The meeting was informed that under the Aghaz-e-Haqooq-e-Balochistan initiative, 4,900 people have been provided employment in various government departments and process is continuing to fill all the remaining vacancies.
The chief minister informed the meeting on the overall development activities in Balochistan.
The members of delegation included Senior Minister Maulana Abdul Wasay, Minister for Finance Mir Muhammad Asim Kurd, Minister for Youth Affairs Capt (r) Abul Khaliq and Minister for Revenue Zamark Khan.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk