QUETTA: Balochistan Chief Minister Nawab Ghous Bakhsh Barozai has initiated contacts with leaders of different political parties and tribal elders to seek their cooperation and help to ensure free, fair and transparent elections in the province.

He separately met leaders of Pakistan People’s Party, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, Jamaat-i-Islami, PML-Q and tribal leaders here on Tuesday and discussed various issues pertaining to Balochistan.

The chief minister welcomed a decision by BNP-M chief Sardar Akhtar Mengal to take part in general elections.

Nawab Barozai said that government would also provide conducive environment to run smooth and peaceful election campaign in the province.

“I am confident that with the support of political parties and people of the province, real representatives of the people will come to power and put Balochistan on the track of peace and prosperity,” he said.

Those who met Mr Barozai on Tuesday included Nawab Sanaullah Zehri, retired Gen Abdul Qadir Baloch of PML-N, Javed Ahmed and Sarbuland Jogezai of PPP, Abdul Mateen Akhundzada of Jamaat-i-Islami and Abdul Ghafoor Bizenjo.

Balochistan seeks more electricity

Balochistan Governor Nawab Zulfiqar Ali Magsi has urged the water and power ministry to enhance supply of electricity to the province.

In a letter to the ministry, he expressed fears that electricity shortfall would increase drastically in the coming weeks, adversely affecting the agriculture sector in the province.

The governor said that farmers under the banner of the Zamindar Action Committee were already protesting because they were facing losses of millions every year due to power outages.

He regretted that instead of increasing Balochistan’s quota of electricity the authorities had reduced the power supply to 350MW even though the demand was expected to increase this year from 1,440MW to 1,550MW.

The shortfall would increase the duration of loadshedding from 20 to 22 hours a day.

He warned that the situation might lead to deterioration in the law and order situation and called for special measures to resolve the issue.