MPAs want Balochistan declared drought-hit

Opposition leader says people of stricken areas are migrating in search of food and water

QUETTA: Lawmakers in the Balochistan Assembly on Thursday voiced concerns over the drought-like situation in various parts of the province and demanded of the government to declare the entire province calamity-stricken.

The members, belonging to both the opposition and the treasury benches, also demanded of the federal government to announce special package for the province. They said that all the districts are affected by a drought-like situation, prompting people to migrate.

“The long spell of drought has hit the entire province but the government has declared only 18 districts as drought-hit,” Opposition leader Malik Sikander Khan Advocate said. “All districts face drought-like situation and people are migrating in search of food and water,” he added.



“Orchards and fields have dried up in the province. There is no water in tube wells, having dried up after water level dropped to up to 1,500 feet,” the opposition leader told the house. He called for accelerating the pace of work on the Mangi dam.

Referring to Quetta water supply scheme, Malik said that Rs27 billion were spent on the project but still people went without drinking water. He demanded that the government conduct probe into “the loot and plunder” of these funds.

He also called for the inquiry report to be presented in the house about the wrongdoings in the appointments made in different departments and the culprits should be brought to justice.

The opposition leader also objected to the postings of deputy commissioners, police officers and other administrative officers in districts, saying that these appointments were being made without consulting the local public representatives.



Sana Baloch of the Balochistan National Party-Mengal (BNP-M) also expressed serious concerns over the drought situation. He said the impact of the drought would continue for decades to come. “This drought will not end with a few rains and snowfalls. It needs long-term planning.”

Baloch said that Balochistan suffered Rs5 billion in losses because of the drought-like situation and asked the government to impose a “development emergency” in the stricken areas. He suggested diverting Rs9 billion Safe City funds for provision of food and other facilities to the affected people.

Fazal Agha, Shaheena Kakar, Nasarullah Zerey, Akhtar Hussain Langove also spoke. During the session, Speaker Mir Abdul Qudoos Bizenjo allowed an adjournment motion of Nasarullah Zerey for discussion on terrorist attack in Loralai this week.