QUETTA: Members on both treasury and opposition benches in the Balochistan Assembly expressed on Monday resentment over the federal government’s decision to stop the release of Rs15 billion additional funds for development projects in the province.

In response to a point of order raised by Sardar Aslam Bizenjo during the session, Chief Minister Dr Abdul Malik Baloch said the federal government had committed to provide Rs15bn additional funds for development projects in the province, but the funds had now been diverted to some other projects.

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The chief minister, however, assured the house that he would take up the issue with the prime minister.

The session was presided over by Deputy Speaker Mir Quddus Bizenjo.

Malik Baloch said he had discussed the issue with federal Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal who told him that the matter was at the Prime Minister’s Office pending a decision.

According to officials in the PM Secretariat, the federal government wants to spend the funds for the development of a solar system project in Balochistan.

Mr Bizenjo said work on development projects which members of the provincial assembly had planned for their areas could not be carried out because the federal government had diverted the funds to other projects.

The members were unhappy over the centre’s decision. They said successive governments in centre had always promised to put Balochistan on the path of progress, but none did anything practically for the province.

The house unanimously adopted a resolution asking the federal government to allow farmers in the province to use electricity coming from Iran to Makran division for agriculture.

The resolution was tabled by Yasmin Lehri.

She said that the livelihood of majority of people in Balochistan was depended upon the agriculture sector which is affected by shortage of electricity.

Progress in the agriculture sector would help reduce unemployment, she added.

The chair admitted an adjournment motion tabled by Syed Liaquat Agha for general debate on Thursday on an attack on the escort of Adviser to the Chief Minister Mir Khaliq Lango.

The session was adjourned till April 14.

Published in Dawn, May 12th, 2015

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