December 4, 2003	Thursday	Shawwal 8, 1424

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QUETTA, Dec 3: Balochistan needs over Rs3.5 billion immediately for its ongoing development projects.

“The financial crisis in Balochistan could worsen if Islamabad does not help,” said Chief Minister Jam Mir Mohammad Yousuf, while talking to a delegation comprising members of the Balochistan Union of Journalists and the Quetta Press Club at the Chief Minister’s Secretariat here on Tuesday.

He said the province has not received funds from the Centre for the implementation of its Public Sector Development Programme for the year 2003-04.

He said that due to financial crisis the province was facing difficulties and the government has no other option, but to suspend various projects.

He said the government was also facing difficulties in paying the raised salaries of the public servants in the province announced by the federal government in the current federal budget.

The chief minister said Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali and Federal Finance Minister Shaukat Aziz had been apprised of the province’s financial position. He said that Mr Aziz had assured them that Rs3 billion would be released to the province soon.

About the next NFC award, he said three provinces had agreed that other indicators including population should be considered, and hoped that Punjab would also agree with the them.

The chief minister said that the second meeting of all the four provincial chief executives would be held in Quetta during the next week. He said that arrangements were underway to hold the meeting.

Replying to a question, Mr Yousuf said that his government was trying to improve the law and order situation in the province.

Earlier the delegation discussed various problems being faced by the journalists community in Quetta. He assured the team that provincial government would take all steps to resolve the problems.