Balochistan creates three new districts
People queue up outside a polling station in Balochistan on the occasion of local bodies elections in the province. PHOTO: EXPRESS
The Balochistan government has given approval for the establishment of three new districts in the province. The districts are Hub, Karezat and Osta Muhammad.
This was announced by Sardar Abdul Rehman Khetran, the Balochistan Communication and Works Department Minister, during a news conference.
Khetran addressed the presser along with other provincial ministers after the Balochistan cabinet meeting and briefed the media about the decisions made.
The cabinet meeting was chaired by Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Quddus Bizenjo.
He added that the provincial cabinet approved the establishment of the three new districts.
With the approval of the three new districts, the number of districts throughout Balochistan reached 37.
The Balochistan government has also decided to cut the expenditure of the provincial cabinet by 50 per cent.
The move, the minister said, is part of the national austerity drive across the country to rein in the financial crisis.
"We reduced all expenditures, not fuel alone, by 50 per cent,”
Khetran maintained that the incumbent government was trying hard to reduce non-development expenditures to improve the financial position of the country’s largest province.
The ministers informed reporters that the cabinet also approved the reinstatement of 361 sacked employees of the communication and works department.
"Very soon, the chief minister would distribute reinstatement orders among the employees.”
Khetran further said the cabinet approved the permanent appointment of the Balochistan Development Authority (BDA) employees who were working on a contractual basis.
"This government wants to support the government employees.”
He went on to say that the provincial government also decided to hand over 177 community water supply schemes in Quetta to the Water and Sanitation Authority (WASA).
"This will improve the provision of clean drinking water to citizens.”
The cabinet adopted the Balochistan Food Authority (BFA) bill 2022, approved the establishment of the judicial complex in Sariab to address the grievances of the masses and the mines and mineral department bill was amended and amendments were also made to the inheritance certificate.
"We have decided to increase the pension by 10 per cent.”
Parliamentary secretary on information Bushra Rind, provincial Industries Minister Toor Utmankhail and others were also present on the occasion.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 7th, 2022.