21 October 2004	Thursday	06 Ramazan 1425

Please Visit our Sponsor (Ads open in separate window).

ISLAMABAD, Oct 20: The federal government was determined to seek a resolution of all issues faced by Balochistan province in a spirit of consultation, consensus and conciliation.

This was stated by Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed in his opening remarks while chairing the sub-committee meeting of the Parliamentary Committee on Balochistan here on Wednesday.

The sub-committee has been constituted to present a problem-solving approach on various issues facing Balochistan, he added.

Vice-Chairman of the Joint Parliamentary Committee on Balochistan and Deputy Chairman Senate, Khalil-ur-Rehman, also attended the meeting.

Mr Mushahid pointed out that the meeting of the sub-committee had been convened with a view to seek the viewpoint of various ministries/departments of the federal government that have relevance to issues in Balochistan.

He said that the sub-committee on Balochistan is a committee representing all shades of opinion within the province and within the country.

He hoped that the members of the committee would work with full devotion and try their level best to come out with fruitful recommendations in a non-partisan manner with a view to resolve the problems of Balochistan.

The representatives of the ministries of petroleum and natural resources, finance and ports and shipping apprised the committee of the respective ministries' point of view on a number of issues identified in the sub-committee's working paper circulated by the committee.

The issues identified included unequal well head prices of gas, increase in royalty of gas produced, provision of gas facility to the people of Balochistan, employment of local people in gas companies and development prospects, concern of the people regarding Gwadar Port and the NFC Award.

The presentations of the representatives of the ministries was followed by a comprehensive question-answer session by the members of the committee.

There was almost a general consensus that all out steps should be taken to safeguard the interests of the people of Balochistan.

Regarding unequal well head prices and the royalty, the committee was told that they were based on different agreements signed during different regimes under different policies and that Balochistan got Rs one billion as gas royalty during 2003-2004.

In reply to a query from a member, the sub-committee was informed that the government was very keen to develop consensus on National Finance Commission.

It was hoped that the issue of NFC award will be resolved in the next meeting of the National Finance Commission.

The Committee was informed that Gwadar Port Authority Bill had already been introduced in the National Assembly for consideration by the honourable members of Parliament. The sub-committee will continue its deliberations tomorrow.

The meeting was attended, besides the Chairman of the Committee, Mushahid Hussain Sayed, and the Vice-Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Balochistan, Khalil-ur-Rehman, Federal Ministers Ms Zobaida Jalal, Sardar Yar Mohammad Rind, Babar Khan Ghori and the Minister of State, Mir Mhammad Naseer Mengal, Senators Syed Dilawar Abbas, Saeed Ahmad Hashmi, Raza Mohammad Raza, Sanaullah Baloch and MNAs Maulana Mohammad Khan Sherani and Al-Syed Abdul Qadir Jamaluddin Al-Gillani.

Senior officers of the Ministries of Petroleum and Natural Resources, Finance and Ports and Shipping were also present.-APP