CM Kamal accuses past rulers of favouritism

Says government working on 600 pending development schemes

QUETTA: Balochistan Chief Minister Jam Kamal Khan Alyani on Thursday said his government has accepted the challenge to revamp the dilapidated structure of Balochistan with sincerity and added that the culture of favouritism hampered the province’s progress to a great extent during the previous regimes.

He shared these views while addressing the groundbreaking ceremony of Nawa Killi Bypass held here in Quetta. Senator Manzoor Kakar, provincial ministers Engineer Zamrak Khan Achakzai, Malik Naeem Bazai and opposition leader Malik Sikandar Khan Advocate also addressed on the occasion.

“Unfortunately, Balochistan remained in the grip of poor governance [for a long time], when development funds were being released for specific districts only on favouritism basis while the rest of the province was kept deprived on purpose,” said Kamal, adding that governance cannot be just implemented through cutting ribbons or inaugurating schemes without putting extra efforts until their completion.

“Today, some people are critical of the government’s strict development policies as the Chief Minister House’s doors are completely shut for dishonest people and flatterers,” said Kamal, vowing to not sit back until all development schemes are fully completed.

Kamal vows to resolve issues of ‘angry Baloch’

He added that today people of Balochistan have high hopes attached with the current government. “They [the people] demand infrastructure, hospitals, schools, a conducive environment and access to clean drinking water. I want to assure them that our government will provide them quick relief,” Kamal pledged.

He lamented over hate and the divisions created in Balochistan on sectarian and language basis and added that unfortunately, the governments didn’t live up to public expectations in the past as they remained occupied with securing vote banks through dividing the masses.

“Being a chief minister, I am responsible for the development of the entire province rather than just allocating funds for my own constituency, Lasbela,” he said. “The incumbent government has commenced development schemes in all constituencies, including those belonging to the opposition members.”

Kamal elaborated that his government is completing 600 pending development projects that were initiated by the previous rulers, thereby indicating a positive approach of the current regime.

Talking about the planning and development mechanism, the CM said the provincial government has allocated funds for every single UC, tehseel and district after a comprehensive homework in order to assess needs of the people.

“Without proper planning, the uplift schemes [and the resources] will be wasted,” Kamal said as he pointed out the former’s importance.

Responding to the questions being raised against the provincial government over its prolonged cabinet sittings, Kamal said a total of 30 to 35 cabinet meetings were held during previous government’s five years’ tenure while he presided over 20 meetings in just seventeen months.

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Citing the 17 months performance of the coalition government in the province, Kamal said the face of Quetta is being revived and changed as construction work is underway on multiple inter-link highways.

“Expansion of Joint Road, Sariyab Road, Sabzal Road, Eastern and Western Bypass will make lives easier of the residents of Quetta,” he said.

Kamal further announced to upgrade Hanna-Orrak Highway into a two-way road.

Meanwhile, Secretary Communication and Works Noorul Amin Mengal briefed the chief minister regarding work on Nawa-Killi Bypass comprising an area of 6 kms.

“Total cost of the project is estimated to be Rs 346.704 million while the project will be completed till June 2020,” Mengal informed.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 7^th, 2020.