CPEC route. PHOTO: REUTERS
The resolution was moved by Balochistan National Party-Mengal’s Sanaullah Baloch during the assembly session presided over by Deputy Speaker Sardar Babar Khan Musakhel. The BA also adopted a separate resolution submitted by former Balochistan chief minister Aslam Raisani seeking details of the Memoranda of Understandings (MoUs) inked with the Chinese companies.
“$62 billion investment is being made under the mega CPEC project, but Balochistan is being completely ignored in it by the concerned authorities, which has enhanced the sense of deprivation among the people of the province,” stated the resolution submitted by Sana.
It demanded of the Centre to set up a national commission, provide all details of the CPEC project and ensure Balochistan’s rights in the mega project according to its territorial size so the sense deprivation among the people could be removed.
'Western countries pushed Pakistan into debt trap': Chinese envoy defends CPEC investment
On the resolution, Sana said, “According to the Constitution, Balochistan is an administrative province with its own importance but it has always been ignored as it has not been given its share equal to that of other provinces.”
He said at the time the CPEC project was launched, it was announced that Pakistan would become an Asian Tiger and Balochistan would be the tiger of Pakistan. “Instead of implementing the promise, Balochistan has been completely ignored in the CPEC and deprived of its share.”
Taking the floor, former CM Raisani said, “During the tenures of the previous governments, 52 Memoranda of Understandings were signed, but the interests of Balochistan were not protected and even Gwadar was ignored. Nobody knows the details of the agreements signed with the Chinese companies.”
China’s BRI brings great opportunities for Pakistan: former PM
Balochistan Chief Minister Jam Kamal Khan, while taking the floor, said China had provided a chance of development to Pakistan through the CPEC as in the project “loans, grants and joint ventures are included”.
“Nothing has been done in Balochistan during the last five years and only two projects have been included in the mega project,” said Kamal, adding that Gwadar part and Hubco-China coal fire pant were two projects given to Balochistan.
On the 8th JCC meeting held in Beijing, the chief minister said former chief ministers attended the meeting, but played no role in ensuring the share of the province in the projects passed by the JCC.
“Balochistan’s share in the CPEC investment is 4 per cent, which has been spent on the development of Gwadar Port and Hubco coal fire power plant while Balochistan has not even received 1.0 per cent of its share for socio-economic development,” said the CM. “No project for Balochistan has been approved by the JCC.”
He lamented that of $52 billion, presently projects worth of $29 billion “are being implementing in the country while Balochistan has no share in it”.
“Balochistan is also being ignored by Islamabad regarding its constitutional quota in the national resources as we are getting only 3.0 per cent instead of 9.0 per cent fixed in the 7th NFC Award,” said the CM, urging the federal government to provide all details of any accord signed in the name of Balochistan.
COMMENTS
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ