Reko diq case: ‘Provinces’ right over their minerals recognised already’

Balochistan government submits reply to the Supreme Court of Pakistan in the Reko Diq case.

ISLAMABAD: The Balochistan government has submitted its reply to the Supreme Court of Pakistan in the Reko Diq case and pleaded that the Economic Coordination Council (ECC) recognised the province’s right on mining its minerals in a meeting on December 9, 2010.

The meeting concluded that the mining agreement will not be executed without the consent of the Balochistan government, the reply said, adding that the ECC also considered relevant proposals sent by the Planning Commission (PC).

Meanwhile, Dr Samar Mubarakmand was invited to a meeting to review the proposals by the ECC. The steps recommended by the ECC meeting were a ratification of the decision taken in December  2009 by the Balochistan government, including its resolve to execute the project on its own.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 23^rd,  2011.