October 10, 2003	Friday	Sha’aban 13, 1424

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QUETTA, Oct 9: The Balochistan Assembly adopted here on Thursday three resolutions demanding that the federal government recruit local youths to the coast guards and navy, waive the condition of obtaining the no-objection certificate for digging tubewells and upgrade Loralai post office to the level of a general post office.

The house rejected with majority votes the resolution of the leader of the opposition demanding that Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) recover the electricity bills from the consumers in the Makran and Chagai districts at par with the prices Pakistan pay to Iran for supply of power to border areas.

Speaker Jamal Shah Kakar allowed Syed Mitiullah Agha to present the resolution of Rahim Ziaratwal who could not make it to the house.

The resolution demanded abolition of the system of the special branch rectification for obtaining passports but S&GAD minister suggested an amendment to it that would be tabled on Saturday.

Chief Minister Jam Mohammad Yousuf assured the house during the question hour that the government would make concerted efforts that local youths should get permanent jobs in Hubco and the National Power, and said the provincial government would take up the recruitment matter with the managements of the two concerns.

He stressed that the priority in all recruitments be given to the local youths who met the qualification conditions, and wondered that if the local youths were not accommodated in the projects of the province where else could they be employed.

He said the government would obtain in detail the percentage of the permanent and irregular employees as well as the ratio of local and non-local employees in Hubco and the National Power, and added that it was his prime responsibility to protect the just rights of the province.

To a question relating to the shifting of industries from Hub town to Karachi or other area, he announced that his government would not allow shifting the industries on one pretext or another, including even the sick industries.

The chief minister went on to say that his government would ascertain the factual position on the shifting issue, and observed that there were reports that some elements blackmailed the industrialists by demanding private tax by show of force or created other problems for the business community; but, he added, the government would chalk out a course of action keeping in view all the aspects.

He further said that efforts would be made to include the traders of Lasbela to be registered as members of the Chamber of Commerce and Industries of Lasbela.

Jam Yousuf said the government would also adopt a permanent policy to sort out the problems confronting the industrialists and businessmen.

The adjournment motion of opposition leader Kachkol Ali Baloch was disposed of when Finance Minister Syed Ehsan Shah assured that the chief minister and the cabinet members had discussed with President Pervez Musharraf the complaints of the people against the attitude of the Frontier Corps.

He said the president had assured that the issue would be discussed with the Frontier Corps inspector-general and the problems of the people resol-ved.

A joint privilege motion of Kachkol Ali, Jan Mohammad Buledi, Rehmat Ali and Naseem Turyala regarding the appointment of the accountant-general office employees in Balochistan Assembly secretariat was not pressed when finance minister assured that the employees of the law department and accountant-general office would be deputed.

The session was adjourned till Saturday.