QUETTA, Dec 13: Provincial Chief Minister Jam Mir Mohammad Yousuf has expressed the hope that by implementing the recommendations of the parliamentary committee on Balochistan, Islamabad would be able to solve the longstanding problems of the province.

He said this during a meeting with Senator Mushahid Hussain Syed, the secretary general of PML and chairman of the sub-committee on Balochistan issues, here on Tuesday.

He presented details of the recommendations prepared by the committee for resolving the problems of Balochistan and said that the government was taking steps to implement the recommendations. “The formula about gas development surcharge was also included in the recommendations that were prepared in view of Balochistan’s stand on the issue,” he said.

He further said that the committee also included the suggestions of the political parties of Balochistan on various issues, including provision of jobs to local people in all mega projects like Gwadar Port, enhancing Balochistan’s quota in the federal services and corporations. A special development package was also made part of the final recommendations of the committee.

Mushahid Hussain said that President Gen Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz were taking great interest in the development of Balochistan and the recommendation of the committee would be implemented in view of their directives.

Jam Yousuf, who is also provincial president of the PML, informed the party’s secretary general about steps being taken for making the party strong and effective in the province. “PML is emerging as a popular awami party in Balochistan under the leadership of Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain,” he said.

Petroleum and Natural Resources State Minister Mir Naseer Ahmed Mengal, Senior Provincial Minister Maulana Abdul Wasay, Finance Minister Syed Ehsan Shah and Inspector General Police Balochistan Chaudhary Mohammad Yaqoob were also present on the occasion.

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