QUETTA: The Balochistan Assembly adopted on Friday a resolution, asking the federal government to direct the management of PIA to begin direct flights from Quetta to Dubai and other Gulf states and Boeing flights from Quetta to Islamabad and Karachi.

The assembly session was presided over by the chairman of a house committee, Zamarak Khan Achakzai.

Following general debate on an adjournment motion tabled by Dr Ruqiya Hashim, lawmakers agreed to turn the motion into a resolution that was unanimously adopted by the house.

The resolution said that a large number of passengers wanted to travel directly from Quetta to Dubai and other Gulf countries.

They said at present limited ATR flights were being operated from Quetta to Islamabad and Karachi which were not enough to fulfil the requirement of the increasing number of passengers.

The lawmakers expressed displeasure over what they called the PIA management’s attitude of ignoring Balochistan.

They said one of the reasons why the province was ignored by the PIA management was that it had no representative from Balochistan who could point out problems being faced by the people of the province.

Nasrullah Zeray tabled an adjournment motion in which he invited attention of the house to alleged harassment of Pakhtun students, transporters, traders and labourers by police in Punjab’s cities.

The motion was admitted for debate to be held on April 25.

Two resolutions tabled by Husna Bano pertaining to establishment of an intermediate college for girls in Chagai district and announcement of a financial package for jobless graduates were disposed of following assurances by the chief minister that the issues would be considered.

The session was adjourned till Monday.

Published in Dawn, May 23rd, 2015

On a mobile phone? Get the Dawn Mobile App: Apple Store | Google Play