UNPO - Balochistan: PM Says Development is Priority

Below is an article published by the Associated Press of Pakistan:

Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani on Wednesday [10 September 2008] said development of Balochistan was priority of the coalition government and directed the Planning Commission that there should be no cut in the province’s development funds and PSDP.

Addressing members of the Balochistan Assembly at the Prime Minister House, Gilani directed that the pace of development work in the province should continue at a steady pace.

He said Balochistan had remained neglected and under-developed over the years and the government wants that its development should be carried out on priority.

The Prime Minister thanked the delegation for reposing confidence in President Asif Ali Zardari’s leadership during the presidential election.

Earlier, the delegation members, led by Balochistan Chief Minister Nawab Aslam Raisani which included provincial ministers, apprised the Prime Minister about various problems the province was facing.

They said besides economic backwardness, Balochistan’s agriculture was badly affected by floods and rains which swept away farms to market roads.

The Prime Minister said the government was cognizant of their hardships and that is why he was meeting them personally and to have a first hand information of the situation in Balochistan.

The meeting was attended by Federal Minister for Housing Rehmatullah Kakar, Special Assistant to Prime Minister Shahnaz Wazir Ali and Advisor on Industries and Production Mian Manzoor Wattoo, Deputy Chairman Planning Commission, Chief Secretary Balochistan and officials from Ministry of Finance.