Gilani announces raise in Balochistan PSDP to Rs 50 billion

[Naveed Yaseen]

ISLAMABAD (May 31 2009): Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani has announced Rs 50 billion for Balochistan in the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) for the next financial year, an increase of rupees eight billion over Rs 42 billion of last year. The Prime Minister announced the increase here on Saturday in a meeting with a delegation of Balochistan Cabinet.

Balochistan Governor Nawab Zulfiqar Ali Magsi, Chief Minister Nawab Mohammad Aslam Raisani and Deputy Chairman of Senate, Jan Mohammad Jamali attended the meeting. He reiterated the government's committed to address the deprivation of the people of Balochistan.

Gilani said that the current financial year's unspent amount of Balochistan PSDP worth Rs 21 billion would not lapse and would be made available to the province during the next financial year. The Prime Minister also announced packages worth rupees nine billion for Balochistan, which included rupees three billion as Quetta package; rupees three billion for budgetary support and rupees three billion for the development schemes to be identified by the members of the Balochistan Assembly.

Thus the total development outlay available for Balochistan in the next financial year would come to Rs 80 billion in addition to the funds allocated to the National Assembly members (MNAs) and Senators for development projects in their constituencies.

The Prime Minister said that his government attached high priority to redressing the grievances of the people of Balochistan and had decided that the entire political leadership of the province would be taken onboard to resolve decades-old issues of the province.

The Prime Minister further said that issues relating to Balochistan needed immediate attention; therefore, a special committee had been formed to work out the modalities for developing broader consensus by taking all stakeholders on board for permanent resolution of the problems.

The Prime Minister said that he had already called a meeting of the PPP Balochistan Provincial Executive Committee in Islamabad on June 5 to take the provincial chapter on board for convening an all parties' conference (APC). The meeting will be attended by the provincial office-bearers, divisional presidents and heads of party's affiliated wings as well as members of the Central Executive Committee and Federal Council from Balochistan, besides Balochistan Chief Minister Nawab Aslam Raisani.

The Prime Minister said that various modalities for speedy socio-economic development of Balochistan for bringing the province at par with other provinces were under way, and expressed confidence that these new initiatives would greatly help in addressing the concerns of the people of Balochistan.

The Prime Minister said the government firmly believed that progress and prosperity of Balochistan was the prosperity of the country, therefore, the government would employ all its resources to remove backwardness of Balochistan and ensure provision of job opportunities to youth.

Appreciating the Prime Minister's announcement regarding enhancement of PSDP funds and other packages, the delegation extended its full support to the Federal government. They also lauded the Prime Minister's initiative for convening of PPP Balochistan Provincial Executive Committee, and hoped that this would go a long way in bringing about a sea of change in the lives of the Baloch people.

Other members of the delegation included Balochistan Ministers Maulana Abdul Wassey, Asim Kurd, Syed Ehsan Shah, Engr. Zamrak Khan, Sardar Sanaullah Khan Zehri, Captain Abdul Khaliq (Retd), Mir Shahnawaz Marri, Haji Muhammad Khan, Mir Abdur Rehman Mengal, Mir Hamal Kalmati, Parveen Magsi, Rubina Irfan and MPA, Sheikh Jaffar Khan Mandokhel. Balochistan Chief Secretary and Provincial Finance Secretary were also present during the meeting.

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