Haqooq-e-Balochistan package reviewed

Senate panel irked by merger of package with province’s 6% job quota

ISLAMABAD:

The senate implementation committee on Wednesday discussed flaws pertaining to the Aghaz-e-Haqooq Balochistan package.

Senator Dilawar Khan and other members of the committee expressed concern over the merging of the aforementioned package with the existing six per cent constitutional quota for employment in government jobs.

The committee directed that the special development package meant to provide employment and job opportunities to Baloch youths be implemented in addition to their reserved quota for employment.

The participants emphasised that the implementation of the package should be ensured.

Senator Muhammad Usman Khan Kakar maintained that the federal government had announced the package in a joint sitting of parliament to address the deprivations of Balochistan and it was a joint strategy of the political parties at that time. He added that so far this package has not been fully implemented and now it is being combined with the quota allocated at the government level for Balochistan which is a gross injustice.

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He further said that a total of 15,000 posts were allotted out of which 5,000 or more are yet to be filled but the problem is that all these posts have been merged with the existing 6 per cent reserved quota.

In this manner, Kakar added, the special package has not attained its objectives. “If these posts were merged with the existing employment quota, the youth of Balochistan would be deprived of jobs till next year.”

Senator Aurangzeb Khan Orakzai, while addressing the session said that the package was approved in a joint sitting of parliament and deviation from it would be tantamount to violating the writ of both the houses.

The convener of the committee agreed with the proposal of Senator Orakzai and said that the committee was constantly insisting that Aghaz-e-Haqooq Balochistan should be implemented as a separate and special package.

On the other hand, the committee also discussed issues against the appointment of Dr Lal Rehman and the lease of PTDC’s land of 172 acres in Gadani Fish Harbor to a private company raised by senator Hidayatullah.

The committee said it had given clear instructions on the issue of Dr Lal Rehman but the directions were not implemented. The committee decided that the whole situation would be brought to the notice of the house and a detailed report would be tabled in this regard soon.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 21^st, 2021.