Balochistan Assembly lambasts centre for ignoring it in talks with IMF

• Sanaullah Baloch took up issue of ignoring Balochistan
• MPA said PM hasn’t allowed Balochistan to explore gas
• Balochistan should demand half share in Copper-Gold Project

QUETTA: The opposition and treasury members of the Balochistan Assembly have criticized the federal government for ignoring Balochistan representatives in the recent negotiations with International Monetary Fund (IMF) and said that Islamabad was not paying share of the province projected in the NFC award, which is worsening the financial crisis and government will be not able to pay salaries to its employees.

The opposition member of BNP-Mengal, Sanaullah Baloch took up the issue of not inviting Balochistan representatives in the negotiation with IMF while speaking at a point of order in the Balochistan Assembly session, which as usual started two and half hours late on Monday evening. Acting Speaker, Sardar Babar Khan Musakhail presided over the session.

Mr. Baloch while speaking on the floor of the house said that the assembly should adopt a resolution and urged the federal government to include Balochistan representatives in next negotiations with the IMF.

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He said that the provincial government should utilize its powers under 18th amendment and demand 50 percent share in the Saindak Copper-Cum-Gold Project. He said that without consulting the federal government has extended the Saindak project agreement for 15 years.

He said that the Prime Minister has allowed the Sindh government to start exploration of oil and gas but Balochistan was not granted this permission.  “The Federal government was taking decisions about Balochistan without taking the province into confidence,” Sana Baloch said. He also spoke on the traffic incident at Quetta-Karachi national highway and urged upon the government to put a complete ban on taking smuggled oil in the passenger coaches.

The Finance Minister, Engineer Zamrak Khan Piralizai while taking the floor supported the plea of Sana Baloch about giving representation to Balochistan in the negotiation with IMF and spoke on the financial crisis of Balochistan which was worsening due to not providing funds to Balochistan by the federal government. He told the house that on the directive of the Chief Minister, he visited Islamabad and had meetings with Finance Minister Ishaq Dar and other concerned officials and informed them about the financial issues of the province. He said that he informed Me. Dar said that if Federal government not paying Balochistan share in the NFC then due to disappointment on the attitude of Islamabad the Chief Minister Bizenjo was ready to dissolve the Balochistan Assembly.

He said, “I informed the federal finance minister that if Balochistan outstanding dues were not paid, the province would not be able to pay salaries to its employees,” Mr. Piralizai said. He said that it was injustice with Balochistan that its finance minister and finance secretary were not invited in the negotiations with the IMF while the representatives of other provinces were included in the talks with the IMF. He said that Balochistan was not paid a single pany from the funds received from different countries.

He supported the demands of the employees of the Quetta Metropolitan Corporation and other local bodies’ institutions and said that they were not paid their salaries for many months.

Home Minister Zia Langove, Zabit Reki, Khalil George, Ahmed Nawaz Baloch and Naseer Ahmed Shahwani, Shakeela Dehwar and other members also spoke and condemned the raid of secretary forces at the residence of the MPA Babu Rahim Mengal.