QUETTA, March 1: Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali has said that provinces will be taken into confidence on the new National Finance Commission award.

“Balochistan would definitely get its due share in the NFC award,” Mr Jamali said while speaking at a local bodies’ convention on the eve of historic Sibi festival on Saturday.

“The new NFC award will be decided with mutual consultations and consensus of all the four provinces,” he said.

The prime minister said that since he belonged to Balochistan it was his duty to serve his province and this should not be considered as an undue favour to this province.

He said he would make all possible efforts to bring this backward province at par with other provinces of the country.

Referring to the local government system, the prime minister urged people and their representatives to make efforts for strengthening the new system so that problems of people could be resolved at a lower level.

He said the government was making efforts to change the political culture of the country, but added that this needed some time.

Mr Jamali admitted that there existed some differences between members of parliament and elected Nazims over the issue of authority. However, he expressed hope that these differences would be resolved soon.

He stressed upon the elected representatives to adjust themselves to the new district government system and said all representative bodies should work within their respective jurisdictions to make the system a success.

“Public representatives at different tiers of the democratic setup should work jointly for the stability of democracy,” Mr Jamali said.

Referring to the demands about agriculture loans, the prime minister said agriculture loans would not be written off, instead a time period would be given to growers and landlords for the repayment of principal amount with the exemption of markup.

He directed the authorities concerned to submit a comprehensive plan for new water supply scheme and sewerage system in the Sibi township.

About reinstatement of sacked government servants, the prime minister said the government would consider their case on humanitarian grounds.

He said a recruitment policy would be announced on March 6 to appoint people in grade 11 to 16. However, he made it clear that all appointments would be made on merit and according to the laid down procedure.

The prime minister held out the assurance that issues raised by the chief minister, provincial minister for local bodies and other elected representatives would be resolved and all steps would be taken in this connection.

Earlier, Chief Minister Jam Mir Mohammad Yousuf in his welcome address highlighted the problems being faced by the province and expressed the hope that the new National Finance Commission award would be finalized keeping in view the wishes of the people of Balochistan. He said Balochistan was facing drought and many other problems which needed adequate financial resources.