President Asif Ali Zardari arrived in Quetta on a three-day visit to Balochistan on Monday. The newly sworn-in Governor Balochistan Shaikh Jaffar Mandokhail, Chief Minister Mir Sarfaraz Bugti, provincial ministers and parliamentarians received the president at the airport.
Needless to mention here is that it is the maiden visit of President Zardari to Balochistan after taking over his office.
During the visit, the President was briefed about overall law and order situation in Balochistan. In addition to this, he was also apprised of development projects in the province.
On first leg of his visit, the Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti and provincial ministers called on President Zardari at the CM House. The provincial ministers included Mir Sadiq Umrani, Ali Madad Jattak, Mir Zahoor Buledi, Sardar Abdur Rehman Kethran, Mir Saleem Khosa, Sardarzada Faisal Jamali, Gazala Gola and Nawab Sanaullah Zehri, a member of the provincial assembly and senior PPP leader.
At the dinner hosted at the CM House, flanked by CM Bugti and Governor Sheikh Jaffar Khan Mandokhail, President Zardari reaffirmed the government’s commitment to Balochistan’s prosperity terming it as a “priority”.
Accentuating the province’s “special importance” due to its mineral resources and coastline, the president reassured that Balochistan’s barren lands will be made capable of increased agricultural production.
The President Zardari stated the federal government was committed to prioritize development and prosperity in Balochistan. He said that the province was important to the country due to its abundant mineral resources and extensive coastline.
The President pledged efforts to increase agricultural production by irrigating barren lands in Balochistan. He also mentioned the 18th amendment in the country’s constitution that empowered provinces and its importance in promoting national development.
Zardari also talked about Balochistan’s untapped potential in the oil and gas sector. He stated that modern extraction methods were needed to harness the resources for economic growth.
The President pledged support for low-income families through programmes like the Benazir Income Support Program (BISP) for the country’s; least developed and sparsely populated province. He vowed to expand such initiatives to ensure “broader coverage”.
Zardari also assured the attendees that maximum efforts would be undertaken for the province’s development. He pledged support to the Balochistan government in “creating” development opportunities for its people.
The President also echoed Bugti’s statement on the importance of political dialogue in resolving Balochistan’s issues.
It may be mentioned here that CM Bugti detailed the significance of Balochistan for the country. Addressing the President, the CM noted that it was the first visit by a President in a long time.
The CM mentioned issues plaguing Zardari’s first term as the country’s president. He also talked about how granting political autonomy to all four provinces was important in resolving interprovincial issues, especially of Balochistan.
Bugti outlined various challenges confronting his province, including climate change, peace, and governance issues.
He envisioned a “sustainable and green” Balochistan that rested on political reconciliation across Pakistan to address these challenges properly.
The government and political circles are expecting much from the President’s crucial visit to Quetta. It is generally believed that the President’s crucial visit would help resolve the longstanding issues of the province in a big way
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