No cabinet: Dr Malik to present Balochistan budget

QUETTA:

Balochistan Chief Minister Dr Malik Baloch is expected to present the provincial budget on Thursday (tomorrow) in the Balochistan Assembly.

The provincial coalition government under Dr Malik has yet to name the cabinet and in absence of a finance minister the chief minister will present the budget.

“If there is an agreement on the issue of ministries, the new finance minister will read the budget before the assembly,” a source said.

So far the parliamentary groups have not reached an agreement on sharing the ministries among the coalition partners and other supporters.

The coalition parties are facing difficulties in deciding who will get the most important portfolios.

Sources confirmed that talks are in progress between the NP, PkMAP and PML-N on sharing powers and specifically for retaining important portfolios of finance, planning and development, communication and works, irrigation, public health, health, education and agriculture. However, following the 18th amendment in the Constitution, there will be less number of ministers in the cabinet and it will be difficult to accommodate a large number of ministers.

Meeting on crime control

Meanwhile chairing a high level meeting on law and order in Balochistan at the CM Secretariat, Dr Malik directed the police authorities to utilise all available resources for crime control.

IG Police Balochistan Mushtaq Sukera gave a detailed briefing to chief minister regarding the kidnapping for ransom and other crimes in the province.

Sukhera said that all resources were used for the recovery of kidnapped doctors, Dr Mubashir, Dr Anwar, and Dr Ejaz, adding that three suspects have also been arrested linked to the case.

Dr Malik insisted that the criminals should be punished in accordance with the law.

He asked the police to sensitise civil society for pointing out the criminals within the community.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 19^th, 2013.