QUETTA - Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Thursday directed for constituting a committee, in consultation with local political leadership, for reconciliation with the disgruntled Baloch quarters.
Presiding over a meeting to review law and order situation in the province here at Southern Command Headquarters on Thursday, he emphasised the need for making efforts to bring the dissatisfied Baloch youth to the mainstream by meeting their demands of employment and launching development projects in their areas.
The meeting was attended by Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif, Governor Mohammad Khan Achakzai, Chief Minister Dr Adbul Malik Baloch, Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar, Federal Minister for States and Frontier Regions Abdul Qadir Baloch, Senator Hasil Bazinjo, PKMAP chief Mehmood Khan Achakzai and others.
Commander Southern Command General Nasir Khan Janjua briefed the meeting on the overall law and order situation in the province.
The Prime Minister directed for constituting a committee in consultation with political leadership of the province to initiate reconciliation process to bring peace to the province. His directions came only a day after he announced, on the floor of the National Assembly, a four-member committee for dialogues with the Taliban.
The PM lauded the role of law enforcement agencies in ensuring peace in the province and directed for effective steps for building the capacity of Balochistan Frontier Corps and police.
Nawaz Sharif also urged the civil and military leadership to devise joint strategy for ensuring durable peace in Balochistan.
The Prime Minister said that the federal government is committed to resolving the issue of Balochistan and put it on the track to prosperity. He stressed the need to further accelerate development projects in the province to ensure relief for the people of province.
Earlier, the Prime Minister laid floral wreaths at Yadgar-e-Shuhada to acknowledge the ultimate sacrifice of the martyrs of Army, FC and Police.
Addressing the provincial assembly members, Nawaz Sharif pledged that the federal government would provide maximum resources for resolving all the longstanding problems of Balochistan. He said the government was cognizant of the Balochistan’s problems including shortage of electricity, gas, unemployment and assured that maximum resources would be provided at the earliest.
“The federal government has already allocated funds amounting to Rs 8 billion for completion of Gwadar-Ratodero and Khuzdar-Naag Highways,” he said, adding work on these projects would soon be launched and completed within a year.
Besides, he said funds for Rs 10 billion Kalat-Chaman Highway had also been arranged and work on the project would be launched soon.
Referring to Gwadar-Khanjrab Highway Project, the Prime Minister said the project would cast far positive impact on economic development of Balochistan and the country at large, besides creating innumerable job opportunities for the youth.
He assured that 90 percent of revenue earned thorough the highway would be ensured to the provinces the highway passes through.
The Prime Minister said that the government was planning to overcome shortage of power by providing solar-based energy in rural and far-flung areas.
The Prime Minister referred to Pakistan Youth Business Loan Scheme and said the programme had been designed to provide the youth in all provinces with resources to establish their own small businesses.
About violence in Balochistan, the Prime Minister regretted over the loss of human lives due to terrorism in all parts of the country. He said the government was determined to eliminate terrorism and sectarianism at all cost.
Referring to violence against Hazara community in Quetta, he said that Hazara people were not alone; the entire nation was standing with them. He vowed to bust organisations active against the community.
He said Pakistan International Airlines would operate special flights for Shia pilgrims and the government was finalising arrangements in this regard.
Earlier, leader of the opposition in Balochistan Assembly Maulana Abdul Wasey, Parliamentary Leader of PKMAP Abdul Rahim Ziaratwall, Balochistan Home Minister Sarfaraz Bugti, MPAs Abdul Karim Noshwerawni, Rahila Durrani and Agha Raza apprised the prime minister of the problems faced by the province and sought his cooperation for their earlier resolution.
Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif reiterated that the Pakistan Army will provide maximum assistance in enhancing the capacity of police to ensure peace in Balochistan.
The COAS visited Combat Training Area in Quetta Cantonment where specialised anti-terrorism training is being imparted to personnel of Balochistan police and Balochistan Constabulary.
Currently, 200 individuals of police and Balochistan Constabulary are being imparted training by the Pakistan Army’s Southern Command in Quetta.