All Parties Conference soon to devise strategy on resolving Balochistan’s issues: Gilani

QUETTA : Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani Friday said an All Parties Conference will be convened soon to resolve the issues of Balochistan and to find measures to undo injustices done to the people of province in the past. Addressing the Balochistan Cabinet here, the Prime minister said the government had already sought an apology from the people over the wrong doings committed to them in the past.
He said the government was working on a policy to bring the province into mainstream and the all parties conference was a step to achieve political reconciliation at national level.
The Prime Minister directed the Adviser on Interior Rehman Malik to take immediate measures for the recovery of missing persons, particularly those from Balochistan.
He said on all the development projects, the people of Balochistan would be taken into confidence, along with the provincial government.
Gilani said just before the cabinet meeting, five officers from Balochistan were promoted to BPS 22, to address a long standing demand that those from the province were not being treated equally in the civil service.
Prime Minister Gilani said the people of Pakistan had reposed confidence in the newly elected government and it was its responsibility to deliver and bring the country out of crises.
The Prime Minister said political forces needed to forge unity and stand together to face the numerous challenges confronting the country.
He said the injustices in the past were the result of dictatorial rule in the country and added the new democratic government would do its best to undo discriminations.
He mentioned the severe loadshedding, shortage of wheat and rice and escalating prices of essential food items and vowed that every efforts would be taken to address the issues.
He said the federal government had set up a task force to address the issue of wheat transportation. He said 100,000 tonnes of wheat will immediately be provided from PASSCO. Punjab will provide 50,000 tonnes, while the government will provide additional 300,000 tonnes of wheat to help the province meet its requirements. He said 200,000 tonnes imported wheat will also be provided to Balochistan.
He said the people of Balochistan rendered numerous sacrifices for Pakistan and said the six percent quota in jobs for Balochistan would be ensured.
The Prime Minister said the federal government would also provide funds for converting the B Areas into A. The Oil and Gas Development Corporation (OGDC) was working to pump out natural gas from the Jhal Magsi area for commercial use in three years.
He said the Shahdadkot Road was being upgraded at a cost of Rs 56 million.
He said out of the Rs 19 million project for provision of gas in Dera Bugti Rs 16 million had already been provided while the rest of the amount will be provided soon. He said the alignment of Iran-Pakistan-India gas pipeline project would be reviewed, while work on the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India gas pipeline will also start soon and added that representatives from Balochistan will be included in the project.
The Prime Minister said Rs 905 million were being spent on providing alternative sources of energy.
Gilani said the previous Peoples Party government was criticised for having a deal with the Independent Power Producers.
“But had we not provided the electricity through the IPP’s, the country would have been living in stone age,” Gilani said.
He said there was a vital need for providing water resources and warned that the future wars would be fought for waters.
He asked the provincial government to improve its civil structure and make the cabinet effective, by holding open public hearings and all the departments must deliver and address the grievances of the people.
Prime Minister Gilani announced construction of 100 low cost houses, as part of PM’s 100-day programme in Balochistan. He said COMSATS Institute of Information Technology will construct four technical colleges in the country, including one in Quetta.
It was Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani’s first visit to the provincial capital since he assumed his duties.
The meeting was attended by Chief Minister Balochistan Nawab Mohammad Aslam Raisani and 38 ministers.
The Prime Minister was briefed about the problems being faced by the provincial government and measures required to improve the things.
Earlier the Cabinet offered fateha for Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto who was killed in a gun and bomb attack in Rawalpindi on Dec 27 last year.