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Islamabad: Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani reiterated that development of Balochistan would remain a focused area for the Government since it is linked with the overall development of the country. The infrastructure development, he added, would greatly facilitate in bringing about a socio-economic change in the province. The Prime Minister said that addressing the deprivation of Balochistan was his personal mission and he would make sure that the same is accomplished.
The Prime Minister was talking to Mr. Changez Khan Jamali, Minister for Science and Technology who called on him at the Prime Minister’s House here this afternoon.
The Prime Minister said that his announcement to visit Balochistan every month signifies the importance attached by the Government to bring about a change in the lives of the people of the province. He assured the Minister that he would personally inaugurate the projects in different sectors of which the grid station at Dera Murad Jamali and Dadu-Khuzdar electricity transmission line are part and parcel of the number of infrastructure projects, already planned.
The Prime Minister said that appropriate measures are being undertaken to ensure peace and security in the province. He referred to his earlier statement given in Quetta during his recent visit that the doors for political dialogue with the disgruntled elements are open in the larger interest of progress and prosperity of the people of the province.
The Prime Minister said that the government understands the criticality of situation currently obtaining in Balochistan and believes in political solution of the issue. He said that the government would go an extra mile to address their justified grievances within the law and Constitution of Pakistan.
The Prime Minister said that he has decided to convene the special meeting of federal cabinet in Balochistan right after the conclusion of Budget session. The meeting, he said, would ponder over strategies for the province’s uplift and development. He said that the government was taking all elements of the Baloch opinion on board to find a negotiated settlement of the issues. He said that the 18thConstitutional Amendment and the 7th NFC Award have redirected the resources and political and administrative authority towards provinces and Balochistan happens to be the most beneficiary in this regard. The Prime Minister said that Aagaz-e-Haqooq-e-Balochistan Initiative launched by his government in 2009 is not the end but the beginning of process of conferring due rights and resources on the Baloch people and it would stay the course.
Earlier the Minister for Science and Technology apprised the Prime Minister on socio-economic and political situation in Balochistan. He thanked the government for special attention on strengthening the embankments of rivers in the province and informed that the water courses have since started supply of water to different areas including Dera Murad Jamali. The Minister said that the Prime Minister’s recent visit to Quetta was greatly appreciated and helped to remove the sense of alienation among the people of the province.
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