ISLAMABAD: Chief Minister Balochistan Dr Abdul Malik Baloch on Saturday said the security situation in his province had improved with drastic reduction in the recovery of bullet-riddled bodies and target killings.

He, however, admitted that the missing persons issue was still a big challenge.

Speaking at a workers conference here, Dr Malik said there were 72 groups involved in kidnapping in Balochistan but most of them had either been killed or arrested.

“At the moment, the crime rate in Balochistan has decreased. However, it is not possible to resolve all the issues of the province through the available resources.”

He said the provincial government had allocated 24 per cent of its budget for education but it was also not sufficient.

“The overall development budget is Rs40 billion but for the construction of new schools we need Rs62 billion,” he said. Dr Malik said the National Party was the only representative of leftists in Pakistan and it had been trying to bring all the leftist groups to one table.

“According to the policy of the party, the provincial parties will be independent in their decisions. I am a realistic person and know that it is not possible to bring a revolution at the moment but we have to mobilise the common people,” he said.

National Party president Senator Mir Hasil Khan Bazinjo said they had decided to organise the party at the country level and soon workers’ conferences would be held in other provinces.

“National Party’s manifesto is for the common people. Roti, Kapara aur Makaan was our slogan but Zulfikar Ali Bhutto used it and when he made the government only feudal were close to him,” he said.

Talking about the sit-ins of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) and the Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT), Mr Bezinjo said both Imram Khan and Tahirul Qadri talked about a revolution but were not serious in bringing it.

“Under the available resources, a revolution is not possible. Both leaders do not talk about land reforms and increase in taxes. Steps have to be taken to increase the revenue and decrease the expenses. We have to develop good relations with India, Iran and Afghanistan,” he said. President National Party Punjab chapter Ayub Malik said there were so many issues which needed to be highlighted.

“The Kalabagh Dam should be constructed to resolve the issue of water. Extremism has been deeply embedded in society in general and in Punjab in particular so the National Party will take stand against it,” he said.“We should have good relations with India. Investors from Japan and China have focused on India but our government is not taking proper steps to bring foreign investment to the country. The investors should be encouraged to set up industries in Pakistan,” he said.

Published in Dawn, September 21st, 2014