QUETTA, June 14: The Balochistan Cabinet has approved payment of compensation to victims of the Ashura carnage and decided to release a report of the tribunal formed to investigate the terrorist attack.

This was decided at a meeting of the cabinet held on Monday to discuss various issues including proposed Annual Development Programme for the year 2004-05. The meeting was presided over by Chief Minister Jam Mohammad Yousaf and attended by provincial ministers and senior officials.

The meeting decided that details of the report would be disclosed by Home Minister Mir Shoaib Nausherwani at a press conference. The cabinet approved policy reforms to improve the financial condition of the province and reduce the debt burden.

The reforms included improving receipt of provincial taxes, preparing comprehensive and practicable uplift schemes, returning loans obtained at high markup rates and providing better facilities to people.

Ensuring benefits of subsidies being given on wheat and tubewells to the deserving people, launching industrial, social and public welfare schemes with the cooperation of private sector, excluding unapproved schemes from the annual development programme and establishing Balochistan Development Forum are also parts of the policy reforms.

The meeting was briefed about the proposed project of promoting and improving resources with the cooperation of Asian Development Bank. It was informed that negotiation was in progress with the ADB regarding acquisition of $120 million loan on easy instalments and exceptionally low markup rate for the project.

Balochistan Agricultural Market Act, 1991, (Amendment Bill) was approved to remove the drawbacks in agricultural laws which have emerged after devolution of power to local bodies.

It approved Cotton Control Ordinance, 1996, (Amendment draft) under which the provincial government would be authorized to regulate the affairs of cotton ginning factories, thereby ensuring increase in cotton production. The meeting also approved Seed Ordinance under which provision of quality seeds for different crops would be ensured to growers. -APP

Our Staff Correspondent adds: The chief minister directed the ministers to take into confidence the opposition members on the proposed Annual Development Programme and their suggestion should also be considered.