Balochistan unrest: Anger to dissipate when locals are given job, says CM

KARACHI:

Chief Minister Balochistan Dr Abdul Malik said on Friday that billions of dollars of investment in the province would not bear fruits until local people are given jobs in companies operating in the province.

Speaking to media after attending China- Pakistan Economic Corridor and Gawadar Port Conference organized by Balochistan Economic Forum at a local hotel on Friday, he said “during the tenure of General Pervez Musharraf more than 23 billion dollars was invested, but it gave nothing [to the local people] except hate against Musharraf because local people were not inducted in any companies, national or multinational,” he said, adding that people in 30 of the 31 districts of the province are living below poverty line.

“There are ample opportunities for investment, but anger among the nationalists and other groups will only end when jobs are given to local people,” he remarked.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 25^th, 2014.