QUETTA: Balochistan Chief Minister Dr Abdul Malik Baloch has said that some political parties are working against the powers granted to provinces under the 18th Amendment and warned that his province would strongly resist any such move.

Speaking at a seminar organised by the Chief Minister’s Policy Reform Unit and department of inter-provincial harmony, he said provinces had secured their constitutional rights after great sacrifices, adding that the old mindset about provincial powers should be changed.

He said the 18th Amendment was an important milestone in the journey to “true federation” as it had laid the foundation stone of a meaningful partnership between the centre and the provinces.

The chief minister called upon the ‘stakeholders’ to ensure implementation of the amendment in letter and spirit.

Under the amendment, he said, the provincial and federal governments had an equal share in oil and gas resources and should draw equal benefits from oil and gas exploration.

He warned that the Balochistan government would not become part of any unlawful act which harmed the interests of the province.

He called for replacing the ministry of petroleum with a body in which all provinces would have equal representation so that they could be taken on board on the issues and agreements concerning them.

He also cited the example of India where the government had accorded recognition to 17 languages.