Mir Abdul Quddus Bizenjo says we are unable to prepare a balanced budget for the next financial year due to severe financial hardships; says not to participate in upcoming National Economic Council meeting

“Cold attitude” of federal Govt not to be tolerated at all:
CM asks Islamabad to take result-oriented
measures for resolving financial and
development issues of Balochistan

Mir Abdul Quddus Bizenjo says we are unable to prepare a balanced budget
for the next financial year due to severe financial hardships; says not
to participate in upcoming National Economic Council meeting

Independent Report

QUETTA: The central President of Balochistan Awami Party (BAP) and Chief Minister, Mir Abdul Quddus Bizenjo has demanded of the federal government to take result-oriented measures and give due constitutional right to the province for resolving its financial and development issues.
In a policy statement issued here on Sunday, the Chief Minister expressed concern over what it termed the “cold attitude” of the federal government in implementation on the promises made with us in the past. It is extremely inappropriate to continuously ignore any federating unit and pushing it to the wall in this manner, Mir Abdul Quddus Bizenjo remarked adding that this attitude of the federation would not be tolerated at all.
The Chief Minister said that if the federal government is not serious in fulfilling its commitments, then Balochistan would not be participating in the National Economic Council (NEC) meeting.
He said that attitude of the federal government proved that that this meeting of NEC would prove to be meaningless for us. It would be useless to sit in the meeting in which decision making and implementation lacked.
Recalling Mr. Bizenjo noted with concern that the proposed schemes of the provincial government were not made part of the federal PSDP last year even.
He regretfully pointed out that the funds have not been releases for the development projects included in the CPEC despite issuance of the tenders.
He also said that not a single rupee was given to the province out of 10 billion rupees announced by the Prime Minister for rehabilitation of the flood affecttes. Thus they (flood affectees) are living miserable life and we are not able to do something for them, he added.
The Chief Minister said that we conveyed our stance to the federal government repeatedly, but to no avail. Even the Prime Minister is not sparing time for meeting despite several requests, he noted.
He also mentioned that the release of NFC Award is also delayed for long. The federal government has not fulfilled the commitments made with us yet, he said. Nor the issue of arrears payable against PPL could be resolved even, he noted with concern.
The Chief Minister said that there’s no two opinions in it that backwardness of Balochistan is not possible without cooperation of the federation.
He demanded of the federal government to ensure sustainable solution to the development issues of the province after consideration in the upcoming NEC session.
He said that if the federal government assured to give priority to the province’s projects in NEC meeting, then we would ponder upon attending it. Otherwise, we would not be attending the vital session, he asserted.
Mir Abdul Quddus Bizenjo said that the province is facing severe financial hardships, and as such we are unable to prepare a balanced budget for the next financial year.
He said that the ally parties having representation in the federal cabinet have also been asked to take up the financial and other issues at the federal cabinet and other concerned forums.
He said that Balochistan guarantees bright and stable future of Pakistan, as such it is necessary to give due importance to it. Mere tall claims and hollow slogans can not change fate of the country, he maintained.