QUETTA, June 19: Pakistan Workers Party president Nasrullah Khan Kakar has strongly criticized the nationalist parties for opposing Gwadar port project and establishment of three new cantonments in Balochistan.

Speaking at a press conference here on Friday, he said that despite their apposition, both projects would be completed in the larger interest of the people of Balochistan.

He said the people of Gwadar and other areas of the province had rejected the appeal of the nationalist parties for observing a black day against the construction of the seaport and establishment of three more cantonments.

"People gave no response to the black day appeal in Quetta," he said, adding that now the people had understood the politics of the nationalist parties. They wanted to keep the people of Balochistan backward while the federal and provincial governments were making all-out efforts for the uplift of Balochistan.

Mr Kakar said these parties and their leadership did nothing for the development of Balochistan when they were in the government. Balochistan remained backward due to these people, he added.