Balochistan may not present budget if demands not met: minister

[Naveed Yaseen]

KHUZDAR (May 11 2009): Balochistan finance minister Muhammad Asim Kurd Gailu said on Sunday that if the federal government did not fulfil the demands of the cash-strapped Balochistan then it would be difficult for the province to present its next fiscal budget.

Talking to journalists here, he said that Balochistan was the most backward province despite having abundant natural resources, and demanded of the federal government to pay the province's dues and ensure rational share in distribution of resources from the federal divisible pool in the NFC Award to Balochistan.

He further asked the federal government to cooperate with the cash-strapped province in preparing of its budget for the forthcoming financial year. He expressed the hope that the government would pay heed to demands of the province keeping in view its financial constraints and political problems hovering over the provincial government.

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