Govt to hold dialogue with all political forces of Balochistan: Zardari

ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari called for dialogue with all political forces of Balochistan and said that certain quarters did not want stability in the province and the country. The president said they would hold talks with all the political forces in the province for the future of Balochistan.

The president was given a briefing on the law and order and the progress on different ongoing development projects in Balochistan in Quetta on Tuesday. According to the press wing of the President’s House on Tuesday, the meeting decided to commence consultations to adopt a joint national narrative against terrorism. The meeting was attended by Federal Minister for Interior Mohsin Naqvi, Governor Balochistan Shaikh Jaffar Khan Mandokhel, Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti, provincial ministers and senior federal and provincial authorities.

During the meeting, cooperation of the federal government was sought over different uplift projects including Burj Azam Khan Dam, Kachhi Canal, Hub and for building a road from Dareji to Dadu, besides other projects related to Gadani Ship Breaking Yard, Gwadar Port, imparting skills to youth and climate change. President Asif Ali Zardari underscored the need to eliminate smuggling which was damaging the national economy and observed that there was a deep link between terrorism and narcotics smuggling. He also stressed an effective mechanism for the provision of job opportunities to the people living in the border areas. Zardari directed the law enforcement agencies to continue their efforts against terrorists.

He said that they were fully cognizant of the backwardness and the frail economic situation of the residents of the province, adding that the province lacked health facilities when compared with other provinces. The president also suggested that for the training of youth in the nursing and other sectors, the system of the Sindh government could be emulated, besides seeking its services in the health sector as well. He opined that both provinces could evolve a joint strategy for cooperation in different sectors of public welfare. The president also stressed seeking cooperation from different countries through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for the provision of jobs to the technically educated and skilled youth of the province abroad.

Zardari said it was essential that the funds allocated by the federal government for the removal of provincial backwardness and certain public welfare-oriented projects be released on a priority basis. The president also underlined the need for outsourcing the Kachhi Canal and advocated a public-private partnership system for the completion of projects. Zardari further proposed the construction of dams and supplying water for making the lands cultivable and proposed overcoming the paucity of water in the province on the pattern of Central Asian countries.

During the meeting, Chief Minister Balochistan Sarfraz Bugti highlighted the governance, climate change issues and security challenges in the province. He said that due to the lack of basic infrastructure and communication network in the province, the provision of basic facilities was a real challenge and stressed upon expeditious release of PSDP and other allocated funds for the mega development projects. Bugti said the early release of allocated funds could lead to the timely completion of public welfare projects in the province.

Bugti further said that they were working seriously for maintaining peace in the province and for the future course, holding of negotiations could not be ruled out and the agenda in this regard should be reached with consensus at the national level.