In the wake of strong stance adopted by the Chief Minister Balochistan, Mir Abdul Quddus Bizenjo against what it has been termed the “non-cooperative” and “callous” mindset of the federal government, the Prime Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif took righteous decision and action to resolve the otherwise burning financial issues of the province.

Economic woes of
Balochistan: role
of federal govt.
In the wake of strong stance adopted by the Chief Minister Balochistan, Mir Abdul Quddus Bizenjo against what it has been termed the “non-cooperative” and “callous” mindset of the federal government, the Prime Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif took righteous decision and action to resolve the otherwise burning financial issues of the province.

A 13-member high-powered parliamentary committee has been formed on special directives of the Prime Minister to look into the financial and other related matters Balochistan province and obviously the incumbent government led by the Chief Minister Bizenjo has been facing for quite sometimes.
The committee led by Chairman Senate, Muhammad Sadiq Sanjrani consists of the Federal Finance Minister, Muhammad Ishaq Dar, Federal Minister Planning and Development, Ahsan Iqbal, Law and Parliamentary Minister, Azam Tarar, as well as the Ministers of Petroleum, Science and Technology, Agha Hasan Baloch (also from Balochistan) and few others besides the central leader of the JUI, Senator Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haideri, Senator Manzoor Ahmed Khan Kakar and MNA Nawabzada Khalid Khan Magsi.
As per the official reports, the committee would take up the financial issues of the province besides the arrears against the federal government and Pakistan Petroleum Limited (PPL) and gas mining lease agreement, and so other related matters.
The committee would also prepare recommendations to resolve the issues being faced by the province almost within two weeks.
The Premier has also directed the Ministry of Petroleum for release of the dues of Balochistan payable against the PPL. Till ours going to the press, a summary has already been prepared by the concerned Ministry for the clearance of PPL dues to the province, which have exceeded from Rs. 45 billion, as per the official reports in the province.
The Balochistan’s official circles claims that all this has been done on the firm stance taken by the Chief Minister over the province’s issues i.e,, first by boycotting the crucial meeting of National Economic Council (NEC) and then his announcement of the federal budget session of the National Assembly. However, in the meantime, a delegation from Balochistan led by Chairman Senate had an important interaction with the Premier ahead of the budget session, who was absolutely agreed to resolve all the issues facing the province.
And now when all these very positive developments have taken places, it is high time for the federal government to act favourably and instantly as committed by the Prime Minister and come to the rescue of Bizenjo-led government resolving the financial problems of the province with the award of its due constitutional share in the NFC Award; release of funds for the federal funded development projects included in its PSFP; payment of the arrears against PPL, inclusion of more public welfare and interest projects from Balochistan in the new federal PSDP, renewal of the lease agreements of mining with the concerned companies as per the policy (after 18th amendment) and release of special grant of Rs. 10 billion as announced by the PM for flood affected people and areas, on top of the list.
Needless to mention here is that all these issues and demands of the province are based on reality and justified. One can hope that PM would keep strict vigil on compliance of his directives so as to remove the grievances of the Balochistan government and obviously of people of the province. Undoubtedly, it would also help the government to prepare a real public-friendly and development-oriented provincial budget for the next financial year.
In addition to his, the federal government should also include additional development schemes of the province in new federal PSDP besides ensuring execution of the previous and current projects of the road sector, most importantly the dual carriage Chaman-Quetta-Karachi highway.