Balochistan Assembly. PHOTO: NNI/FILE
The Balochistan cabinet has formed a committee to hold a multi-party confab on the law and order situation in the province by December this year. The panel is made up of parliamentary leaders of political outfits.
At Friday’s meeting -- chaired by Balochistan Chief Minister Dr Abdul Malik Baloch – the provincial cabinet also decided to hold local body elections, in compliance with the Supreme Court’s orders and constituted separate committees for bringing qualitative changes in provincial departments such as fisheries, livestock, education, health and agriculture.
An official statement released after the meeting stated that the committee responsible for the APC will frame the agenda for the conference whose main focus will be the province’s security situation.
Coordination with LEAs
The chief minister constituted a four-member committee to improve coordination among law enforcement agencies after the Balochistan police chief informed the cabinet about the need to overhaul the police along modern lines.
Furthermore, separate committees have been tasked with preparing proposals for bringing about improvement in the functioning of government departments. These proposals will be presented before the Balochistan Assembly for approval.
Quetta development
The cabinet has formed a committee that will be responsible for beautification of the provincial capital and review all development projects currently in progress in Quetta. The panel will also recommend improvements in parks, sewerage and traffic system in the city.
Talking about development projects in the city, the chief minister urged the cabinet to make the most of the time for better use of available resources.
“We have to devote our efforts and energies to implementing development projects of the federal and provincial government for which people will have to demonstrate utmost discipline,” Dr Abdul Malik Baloch said.
Finance Secretary Mir Dostain Jamaldini informed provincial ministers that non-development expenditures were being curtailed drastically to generate more revenue for development projects.
Oil and gas development
Members of the cabinet said that the Balochistan government must be taken into confidence and given half of the share in all oil and gas related projects in the province, according to the 18th Amendment in the Constitution.
According to the official statement, the cabinet has categorically declared that the provincial government will extensively review some of the agreements, some of which are being referred to the Council of Common Interests for adjudication.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 26th, 2013.
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