Govt doing all to address financial crisis: Hassani

Finance minister blames previous govt’s policies for prevailing problems

QUETTA: Provincial Finance Minister Mir Arif Jan Muhammad Hassani on Thursday blamed the previous government’s policies for the ‘severe’ financial crisis in Balochistan.

Addressing a news conference alongside Information Minister Zahoor Ahmed Buledi and Secretary Finance Noorul Ameen Mengal, he said the province had financially reached a dead end due to lack of good governance.



“The previous government passed Rs352 billion budget for the fiscal year 2018-19, featuring a deficit of Rs75 billion and Rs88 billion Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP),” said Hassani.

He said that utilisation of PSDP funds was thoroughly debated in the last three cabinet meetings, with the members calling for the inclusion of only those schemes that would benefit the people.

The finance minister said that the Chief Minister Inspection Team had been working to identify the ‘individual-based’ development schemes “which are a burden on the national exchequer”. He added that those responsible would be brought to justice.

He said that Chief Minister Jam Kamal Khan had opted to work on ‘collective-based’ development schemes to serve the interests of the people.

“We have been working under the leadership of CM Kamal to address the financial challenges with a better vision for the people,” he added.



Hassani said the incumbent government had decided to strengthen the fisheries, livestock, mineral and tourism departments to counter the financial problems of the province.

He said the country’s future was linked to the development of Balochistan. “The CM is doing everything to introduce good governance in the province,” he added.