QUETTA: Governor Balochistan, Muhammad Khan Achakzai on Friday said that despite a small population and rich-mineral resources, the province faced illiteracy, poverty and increasing maternal and child mortality rates.

Achakzai stated that governments in the past had failed to address the grievances of masses in the province.

"Balochistan's backwardness is nothing new rather it has a background," he said.

The governor expressed these views while addressing a seminar organised by the Balochistan government to pay tribute to Baloch historian, writer and poet, Gul Khan Naseer.

Chief Minister Balochistan, Dr Malik Baloch, provincial ministers and legislators also participated in the seminar.

Baloch writers and literary figures from Middle East, Central Asian States, Afghanistan and other parts of the globe also arrived Quetta to shed light on the life and struggle of Gul Khan Naseer.

"We follow the political principles of Gul Khan Naseer," Dr Malik Baloch told the seminar.

The speakers discussed the literary services and political struggle of Naseer for the oppressed people of the society.

Achakzai who inaugurated the seminar spoke at length about the struggle of Naseer.

"Despite troubles, Gul Khan Naseer always stood by the people of Balochistan," the governor said.

He said Naseer served Balochistan’s people through his poetry which was based on ground realities.

Achakzai urged upon the literary figures present in the seminar to follow the principles of Naseer and struggle for a developed and prosperous Balochistan.

The Balochistan government has declared the year 2014 as the year of Gul Khan Naseer in the province.