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QUETTA, Jan 18: The Balochistan government has declared 23 out of 26 districts and parts of areas in them affected by drought as calamity-hit areas, and exempted them from collection of land tax.
The provincial Board of Revenue announced this through a notification issued on Saturday evening. The districts include, Chaghai, Kharan, Khuzdar, Kalat, Mastung, Loralai, Qila Saifullah, Pishin, Zhob, Kohlu, Dera Bugti, Lasbela, Ziarat, Awaran, Kech, Panjgur, Qila Abdullah, Gwadar, Bolan, Jhal Magsi, Barkhan, Musakhel and arid zone of Nasirabad district, Tehsil Chatar, Tesil Tambo, Aghbarg, Sairab, Sura Churgay, Balili, Hana Urak, Mian Ghundi, Kuchlak and nine wards of Union Council Zharghoko of Quetta district.
These districts and areas were declared calamity-hit areas due to crop failures following severe drought, which has hit Balochistan for the last five years.
The Balochistan Assembly had adopted a consensus resolution demanding the government to declared all drought-hit areas of the province as calamity-hit areas and exempted them of collecting land tax during the financial year 2002-03.
AWARD: The Balochistan Police has announced a one million rupee reward for providing authentic information about terrorists involved in rocket attacks and bomb blasts in Quetta and other areas of the province.
A provincial police spokesman announced this in a statement issued here on Sunday. He said the names and identity of those who would provide information about the terrorists would be kept secrete," the spokesman stated.
Meanwhile, the provincial police chief, Dr Shoaib Suddle warned the police officers that negligence would not be tolerated any more from their part and in future police officers would be held responsible for any rocket attacks and bomb blasts in their respective areas.
He was presiding over a meeting on the law and order situation in the Central Police Office that was attended all senior police officers including the district police CID and Special Branch officers.
The meeting discussed various issues including rocket attacks and bomb blasts in Quetta and observed that strict measures were required to stop these terrorist activities.
He said that immediate departmental action would be taken against the area DSP and SHOs where rocket attack or bomb blasts occurred in their jurisdiction in future. He expressed dismay over the negligence of some senior police officers in the meeting and warned that in future their attitude would not be tolerated.
He said that those police officers would be encourage who would perform their duties with devotion and honesty. These officers would be rewarded in shape of money prize and promotion as in the past.
DEMO: The workers of Balochistan agriculture department staged a demonstration in front of the press club here on Saturday to protest against the government for not honouring its commitment to adjust the surplus employees on the vacant posts.
The protesters were holding placards and banners inscribed with charter of demands of the workers union. They shouted slogans against the government and the agriculture minister.
The representatives of the employees union including Sher Mohammad Lodhi, Shakeel Ahmed, Abdul Salam Baloch alleged that the minister for agriculture affiliated to Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal has violated rules and merit for recruiting favourite candidates in the department. Speakers blamed the ministers of the MMA for nepotism on the policy related to appointments in the government offices.
