08 November 2004	Monday	24 Ramazan 1425

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QUETTA, Nov 7: The formation of a parliamentary sub-committee for resolving issues faced by Balochistan was a result of the struggle waged by the people of the province and the sacrifices rendered by them, veteran Baloch leader Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti said on Sunday.

Talking to newsmen, he said that people's united and protracted struggle for their rights had forced the government to hold talks on the Balochistan issues.

He said the chairman of the parliamentary sub-committee, Senator Mushahid Hussain Syed, had held meeting with him and discussed the issues. He said Senator Mushahid was on a visit to the province to acquaint himself with the problems and deprivation of the people of this backward province.

"It is the first time a committee is visiting Quetta and Gwadar," Nawab Bugti said, adding that it indicated that talks were in progress.

He said that if the committee managed to submit its 'positive or negative' report in three months it would create history because no such committee set up in the past had done so and all such attempts had been abandoned without achieving any results.

"I hope for a better result. If the result is positive, we will welcome it," the Baloch nationalist leader and chief of the Jamhoori Watan Party remarked while replying to newsmen's questions.

OFFICE-BEARERS: Pakistan Muslim League (women's wing) president Nilofer Bakhtiar has appointed new office-bearers ofthe Balochistan chapter of the PML (women's wing) on the directives of the party chief.

Rehana Yehya has been appointed president and Rahela Durrani general secretary.

Parveen Magsi and Ruqayya Hashmi have been appointed central vice-presidents and Robina Irfan additional secretary-general from Balochistan in the central organization of the PML (women's wing).

PROBLEMS: Most parts of Balochistan, including the Quetta valley, face serious environmental problems due to recent dust storms, which have caused health and socio-economic problems, and a detailed environmental studying the areas is needed, says app.

Environmental Protection Agency officials here said they had carried out an ambient air monitoring test on Oct 25 and 26 during a dust cycle, during which the level of particulate matter was found far greater than the international and national air quality standards.

The study showed that a typical dust storm might continue for a few days.

The provincial organization had approached the Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency and calling for a detailed study of the changing environmental behaviour.