QUETTA, Jan 22: Awami National Party leader Haji Adeel has said that provinces should be empowered to utilise their own natural resources and the revenue generated from seaport, cotton yield, electricity and gas supply be transferred to the federating units.

Speaking at the inauguration ceremony of the Bacha Khan Markaz here on Monday, he said that the bone of contention between the centre and provinces was the control of natural resources.

He accused the federal government of depriving smaller provinces of the revenue generated from their natural resources.

The ANP leader said that the NWFP produces electricity and tobacco, and the whole country was benefiting from the gas supply from Balochistan, but both the provinces did not get the major share of revenue from electricity, tobacco and gas.

Similarly, Sindh had been denied the revenue generated from the activities at Karachi port

He said that exploitation should end to create harmony among the centre and federating units.

Mr Adeel cautioned the government that unilateral decisions on to rights of smaller provinces would further widen the gulf between the centre and the federating units. He urged the government to stop the military operation in Balochistan and release all political workers.

He also advocated maximum autonomy for provinces.

Earlier while inauguration the Bacha Khan Markaz, he said that the basic philosophy of Bacha Khan’s Khudai Khidmatgar Movement was to provide social justice and democratic rights to oppressed people.