Balochistan Chief Minister Abdul Malik Baloch. PHOTO: REUTERS
It was decided at a Cabinet meeting, presided over by the Chief Minister, Dr Abdul Malik Baloch, saying that the Cabinet committee will make preparations for holding the APC in this Provincial Capital on a schedule to be announced later.
The Committee had been entrusted with the task for making full preparations and also framing the Agenda for the APC, an official announcement said.
The Cabinet also decided to hold the local bodies’ elections as a mark of respect for the Supreme Court verdict and also upholding the Constitution and laws of the land supreme ensuring devolution of powers to the lowest level.
In order to ensure good governance, the Cabinet also decided to form separate committees headed by the concerned Minister for bringing qualitative changes and improvement in those Government Departments including Fisheries, Livestock, Education, Health, Mines and Minerals and Agriculture. Those committee will start functioning immediately preparing proposals for marked improvement in working of those important Government Departments.
All those proposals prepared by the Committees will be presented before the Balochistan Assembly for approval, the official announcement added.
Yet another Cabinet committee had been formed to beautify Quetta city reviewing all the development projects taken in hand for the Provincial Capital. The Committee had been given the task to bring improvement in parks, sewerage system and roads and main arteries of the Provincial Capital.
Sardar Raza Mohammad, adviser on Education, will head the multi-party committee bringing major improvement in quality education, working of educational institutions and the Universities in the Province. He was entrusted with the task to meet with the task force of all the universities in Balochistan.
The Cabinet had reminded all the oil and gas companies that they should take Government of Balochistan into complete confidence in all the projects as the 18th Amendment in the Constitution had empowered the Provincial Government with 50 per cent share in all respect. OGDCL, PPL and other companies had been asked to protect the legitimate interests of Balochistan as per constitution of Pakistan.
The Cabinet categorically declared that the Government of Balochistan will review extensively some of the agreements. The Government of Balochistan had some reservations on some of the agreement, the official announcement said. Some of the cases are being referred to the Council of Common Interests for adjudication, the announcement further said.
The Cabinet had expressed its reservation on oil exploration in Barkhan area of Balochistan.
The Inspector-General of Balochistan Police informed the Cabinet about the difficulties in improving the law and order situation saying that there is a need for overhauling the police force on modern lines. It was stressed to improve coordination between the Police and Balochistan Levies for improving law and order situation in parts of Balochistan.
The Chief Minister had formed a four-member committee to improve coordination among the Police, Levies and Balochistan Constabulary. The IGP conceded that kidnapping for ransom and hostage taking in Quetta had seriously affected the image of the police force. IGP thanked the Chief Minister for support to improve the performance of the police in combating crime.
In the course of discussion, the Chief Minister said that we have to devote our efforts and energies in properly implement the development projects of the Federal and Provincial Government for which the people will have to demonstrate utmost discipline. He said that he can convene Cabinet meeting on 15 days as ‘we have enough time’ for better use of available resources.
The Cabinet had approved eight Bills to be tabled before the Provincial Assembly for approval. The Finance Secretary gave a thorough briefing to the Council of Ministers saying that every uplift scheme will be reviewed on the basis of merit. Mir Dostain Jamaldini informed the Ministers that the non-development expenditures will be curtailed drastically and general more revenue to make available more resources for development.
Hafiz Basit, the Director-General PDMA had briefed the Ministers on the relief work for the earthquake affected people of Awaran and other districts and informed the Ministers about the extent of damage to the people and the whole region. He said more than 30,000 families had been affected in the devastating earthquake.
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