QUETTA: Chief Minister Balochistan Dr Abdul Malik Baloch here on Thursday said there was no rift among the members of the coalition government.

Addressing a ceremony and later speaking to media representatives, Dr Malik said a conducive environment was being created to hold talks with disgruntled Baloch in order to amicably resolve the issue of Balochistan.

He said difference of opinion was the beauty of democracy and dispelled the impression that there was any rift among the coalition partners in Balochistan.

“Holding talks with the disgruntled Baloch and resolution of the province's issue was not as easy as it was being deemed,” the chief minister said, adding that an environment acceptable to all stakeholders was being created to settle the long-pending multi-pronged issue.

Responding to a question, Dr Malik said over 50 per cent funds had been released for development schemes. He, however, noted that the federal government had been approached to ensure early release of the funds meant for uplift projects.

“Out of Rs 43 billion federal PSDP, we have received Rs 18 billion,” Dr Malik stressed.

Replying to another question, the chief minister said soon an APC comprising all leading political parties would be convened to steer the province out of the problems confronting it.

He noted that the incumbent government had regularised the teachers appointed under the Aghaz-i-Huqooq-i-Balochistan package and announced about 700 more posts in the teaching cadre to provide maximum jobs to the youth.

He deplored that violation of laws is taken as a status symbol in Balochistan and urged to discourage VIPism from society.