Balochistan requests 600,000 bags of wheat from Punjab

Chief Minister Balochistan Mir Abdul Quddus Bizenjo has expressed the hope that Punjab, as an elder brother, would provide 600,000 bags of wheat to the province to bring an end to the prevailing flour shortage.

He expressed these views while talking to provincial ministers on Wednesday.

CM comments have come after the flour prices skyrocketed and a 20 kg bag of flour is being sold at Rs2,600 on the open market in Quetta and other parts of Balochistan.

This has compounded the problems of the general public across one of the poorest provinces of the country.

We have approached the Punjab government about the provision of wheat to Balochistan government to overcome the flour crisis in the province, Bizenjo said, adding that the federal government would play its role in addressing the financial issues of Balochistan and bringing an end to the wheat and flour crisis here.

The chief minister demanded of the federal government to provide one per cent extra share in the national finance commission award to Balochistan on account of security.

“We are maintaining the security of half of Pakistan which is expensive,” Bizenjo said.

He stated that Balochistan was facing security and financial challenges and expressed the hope that the federal government under the leadership of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif would address all grievances of the province.

He informed the cabinet that currently Balochistan’s outstanding dues against Pakistan Petroleum Limited (PPL) stood at more than Rs34 billion.

He asked the PPL to make sure of timely payment of the outstanding amount of Balochistan so that the province could overcome its prevailing financial crisis.

He reiterated that his government has taken a number of initiatives to improve the living standard of the people of Balochistan and for this purpose billions were allocated under the public sector development program.

He directed the concerned departments to step up efforts to ensure timely and quality completion of all projects underway in the province.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 5^th, 2023.