PM arrives in Quetta: Opportunities for Baloch youth to be created

Gilani meets PPP workers, urges unity among ranks to ensure strength in next election. Assures Hazaras of security.

QUETTA: Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani has reaffirmed his government’s plan to implement the set strategy to provide Baloch youth with employment opportunities in order to address their pressing grievances.

Gilani expressed these views during a meeting with a delegation PPP provincial leaders and workers led by MPA and former Provincial Minister Mir Sadiq Umrani at Balochistan Governor House.

Strict security measures have been adopted with the huge deployment of police and security forces on key roads leading to Airport and Governor House and Chief Minister Secretariat.

Sources said the differences between the PPP leaders in Balochistan were also discussed during the meeting.  Gilani urged party workers to overcome their differences otherwise it would create serious problems come next elections.

Prime Minister also met with a delegation of provincial ministers headed by Provincial Minister Ali Madad Jatak during which he informed that the Federal Government had earmarked Rs4 billion for promotion of quality education. “The allocated amount will be spent on scholarships for students living across the province. The students will get admission at prestigious educational institutions of the country,” he said.

Gilani, who is on two-day visit to Quetta, will be addressing the Army’s passing out parade, scheduled to be held in cantonment area. 5, 000 cadets are due to be inducted in to Pakistan Army. The Chief Minister said that unemployed youth of Balochistan will be given relaxation in age and set educational criteria for recruitment.

“The government is taking efforts to remove the prevailing sense of deprivation among the people and bring it at par with the developed provinces. The PPP government has allocated an additional amount of Rs 50 billion in the NFC Award, enabling the province to announce a large budget which had never happened in past,” he said, adding his government also intended to recruit people from Balochistan at key posts of Pakistan Petroleum Limited (PPL) and the Oil and Gas Development Corporation Limited (OGDCL).

Sources said that Chief of Army staff General Ashfaq Pervez Keyani is also likely to arrive in Quetta on Tuesday to address the passing out parade.

Prime Minister also met with a delegation of Hazara Community and assured complete security in order to prevent sectarian targeted killing. He also expressed grief and sorrow over the killings that took place in recent weeks.