June 12, 2006	Monday	Jumadi-ul-Awwal 15, 1427

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QUETTA, June 11: Chief Minister Jam Mohammad Yousuf has said Balochistan is facing a financial crisis, which is delaying implementation of development projects in the province.

He said the provincial government was facing the problem of presenting a balanced budget and initiating development programmes.

The chief minister apprised federal Minister for Inter-provincial Coordination Saleem Saifullah Khan of his government’s problems at a meeting here on Saturday.

Mr Yousuf said the provincial government was forced to get overdraft and loans from banks to complete ongoing development projects and meet non-development expenditures.

He asserted that had the province been given its just share in gas development surcharge and gas royalty, the government would not have obtained overdraft and loans from financial institutions.

The chief minister maintained that Sindh owed Rs9 billion dues to Balochistan in connection with Hub water and urged the federal government to play its role in getting the province its dues.

He said the provincial government had forwarded to the federal government details of losses in coastal areas due to floods, which were estimated at Rs2.5 billion, but the amount had still not been provided for payment of compensation to affected people.

He said the province’s financial hardships had increased following reduction in its gas revenue caused by the blowing up of gas installations by saboteurs.

Mr Yousuf said that power breakdowns and load-shedding had also affected economic progress and caused losses to farmers.