CM blames tightwad centre for Balochistan’s backwardness

Calls for cutting reliance on federal govt for development

QUETTA: Balochistan Chief Minister Sanaullah Zehri complains that the province is not getting enough resources for its development from the federal government, which has kept it backward, poor and underdeveloped.

Addressing a seminar, the chief minister called for harnessing Balochistan’s own resources “in a big way’ and reduce its reliance on the federal government. He said the province has been empowered to exploit its resources for the benefit of its people under the 18^th Constitutional Amendment.



“Balochistan is getting insufficient resources from the federal government for development, which keep the province backward, poor and underdeveloped,” he said. “The Centre is transferring a meagre amount which is insufficient for development of Balochistan.”

Zehri said that Balochistan is the biggest province of Pakistan, even bigger than the rest of the country combined, if “we include our territorial waters” on the Mekran coast. “We have Saindak, Reko Dik, the two copper and gold mines, besides vast resources of metals and minerals,” he added.

Zehri told the audience that the province is “lucky” that it has “unlimited natural wealth” and small population. However, he regretted that despite these benefits, the province has failed to provide facilities to the people.

“We failed to use our resources in a planned and judicious manner,” he said, adding that from now on, he would use “our own resources for speedy economic and social development” of the province and its people.

“If we utilise our natural resources properly, the government can pay at least Rs15,000 every month to every individual in Balochistan,” the chief minister stated.

Referring to the water resources, he said more than 1.5 million acre feet of floodwater geos to the sea because “we failed to build dams and water reservoirs” to develop agriculture. “This could make Balochistan self-sufficient in food production.”

Noting a marked improvement in the law and order situation, Zehri said the government has broken the back of the lawless elements, while their remnants would soon surrender to the authorities and join the political mainstream.



The menace of religious or sectarian terrorism still persists, he continued, which is being “fought bravely by the law-enforcement agencies. He hoped the menace of sectarian terrorism would be dealt with and ultimately eliminated in due course.

He said the majority of Balochistan youth is around 30 years of age but only half of them are educated. He added 25,000 government job opportunities were available at present, while the commercial organisations were also being encouraged to create more job opportunities.

A large number of people, including politicians, and students, senior civil and military officials attended the seminar.