CM Bizenjo blames Centre for deficit budget

Accuses federal government of utilising share of Balochistan to develop central Punjab

QUETTA: Balochistan Chief Minister Abdul Quddus Bizenjo has slammed the federal government for allocating an annual budget with Rs61 billion deficit, saying the Centre deliberately spent the share of the small province on central Punjab’s development.

“It is unfortunate that an ordinary Baloch holds Punjab responsible for stealing his rights,” the Balochistan chief minister said while addressing a delegation of All Pakistan Newspapers Society (APNS) at the CM House on Saturday.



The APNS delegation was headed by secretary general Sarmad Ali.
CM Bizenjo said, “We have always faced cut in our Public Sector Development Programme funds by the Centre. Our former chief ministers are also to be blamed for their failure in directly asking the Centre for the due rights of the people of Balochistan.”

Bizenjo said, “Such an inappropriate behaviour on behalf of the federal government can endanger the country’s integrity as Balochistan is an emblem of Pakistan.”

Development projects grab major chunk of Balochistan budget

The chief minister said that in the short period of tenure, they had made earnest efforts in utilising the government machinery in order to provide relief to the people of Balochistan. “Poverty has reached on alarming level in the province, but the federal government has yet to take steps in resolving our issues,” he added.

“The PML-N-led federal government had made tall claims about Balochistan’s development, but yet the heart of CPEC is deprived of clean water and is depicting a dilapidated picture,” he said, adding that the federal government pledged 50% expense in resolving Gwadar’s water crisis, but failed to keep its promise; however, the provincial government, within its limited resources, commenced installing desalination plants in Gwadar to end the water crisis”



Sharing his views on Balochistan’s representation in National Assembly, Bizenjo said, “We will be able to clinch our rights from the federal government if we get a large representation in the National Assembly. We have to raise the issue in the provincial assembly for more seats for Balochistan as it will end the sense of deprivation in Balochistan and appease differences among provinces.”

Bizenjo urged the media to become the voice of Balochistan and said, “As the media is playing a vital role in the country, our media industry, whether print or electronic, should unite with the people of Balochistan for addressing their issues.”