Govt seeks increase in Balochistan NA seats

QUETTA:

Balochistan Chief Minister Jam Kamal on Monday presided over a parliamentary committee meeting of coalition parties demanding an increase in Balochistan's representation in the National Assembly.

Members of provincial assemblies and ministers from coalition parties including Balochistan Awami Party, Pakistan Tehreek e Insaf, Awami National Party, Jamhoori Watan Party and Hazara Democratic Party have welcomed the federal government’s decision of increasing provincial seats in the Senate, demanding a similar increase in the National Assembly.

The meeting unanimously decided that a resolution to increase the number of seats in the NA would be tabled in the provincial assembly and the opposition parties would also be taken into confidence regarding the development.

In this regard, a parliamentary committee comprising members of national and provincial level parties would be formed.

Corroborating the demands of coalition partners CM Kamal said, Balochistan is the largest province of the country in terms of land and possesses mammoth of natural resources,

"Limited representation in the NA is a prime reason for the problems faced by the people of Balochistan thus effective representation of the province at the federal level is necessary to fully highlight the problems of the province,” the CM said.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 25^th, 2020.