QUETTA: Balochistan Chief Minister Dr Abdul Malik Baloch said on Tuesday that the Afghan war and the international policy towards jihad has affected world peace.
“The eradication of extremism is associated with poverty and unemployment,” he said, adding, “Better ties between Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iran were in the interest of this region and all three countries.”
He expressed these views addressing and answering the questions of participants of Allied Officers hailing from 25 countries getting training in Staff College Quetta.
Balochistan Chief Secretary Saifullah Chatta, Provincial Minister Dr Hamid Achakzai, Additional Chief Secretary Development Ali Zaheer Hazara and provincial secretaries were also present on the occasion.
Baloch said that after the Soviet invasion in Afghanistan and the policy of international powers towards jihad, world peace was badly affected.
“In order to get rid of extremism, terrorism and sectarianism poverty, illiteracy and unemployment need to be addressed forthwith.”
He added that the international community should play its role in this connection otherwise the demon of poverty would continue to fuel terrorism and extremism.
He said that we wanted better relations with all nations particularly with our neighbours as the good ties between Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iran were not only in the interest of entire region but also all three countries.
Baloch said that his provincial government was struggling through a democratic way to achieve its rights from the centre, adding that 18th Constitutional Amendment was an important development in empowering provinces and strengthening democracy. “Other than five subjects, all other departments have been transferred to provinces, and without the consent of provinces no agreement could be made by centre.”
Responding to a question, he said that they were making efforts to ensure the quota of Balochistan in federal services and have appropriate representation in centre.
Chief Minister Balochistan told participants that improvement of law and order situation in the province was the top priority of the provincial government while government was also striving hard to improve agriculture, livestock, minerals, fisheries and mining. “Govt. has taken steps for capacity building of Police, Levies and other law enforcement agencies due to which law and order situation has improved in the province, and kidnapping for ransom has reduced to a great extent,” he said.
The chief minister further said that 2.3 million children were still out of schools and Rs62 billion was needed by the provincial government to open schools and ensure basic facilities while the government only had Rs45 billion in its hands.
He said that first time in the history of the province the government allocated 26 per cent of budget for educational sector adding that a huge amount had also been set aside for improvement of health sector.
“We are also facing an energy crisis but after completion of two main transmission lines in the province the energy issue is being resolved that would help improve agriculture which would bolster the economy of the people.”
Referring to the Baloch insurgency, the chief minister said that the government was trying to initiate talks with Baloch resistance groups and bring them to the negotiating table.
Comparing the law and order situation of Balochistan with other provinces, the CM dispelled the impression of the deteriorating law and order situation in his province.
Baloch said that the provincial government would provide security to investors as there was a vast opportunity of making investment in Balochistan.
“We would soon organiae Balochistan Forum in Islamabad that would attract the investors.”
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