QUETTA: Despite having natural resources in abundance Balochistan continues to grapple with financial crisis, caretaker Chief Minister Alauddin Marri said on Friday.

“We can’t further rely on the assistance of the federal government to fill our financial gaps. The province can become self-sufficient if attention to the CPEC and Gwadar is given,” he said while chairing a meeting held to review the performance of Finance Department on Friday.

Chief Secretary Baloch­istan Dr Akhter Nazeer, Additional Chief Secretary for P&D Hafiz Abdul Basir, Secretary Finance Qamar Masood and other officials attended the session.

Mr Marri stressed on bringing about reforms in all provincial departments, particularly tax reforms. He said that despite possessing natural resources the province needed the help of the federal government to fill in the financial gaps.

“Utilisation of public money with dignity and honesty could only reprieve the province from financial crisis for which we all have to work hard and carry out our responsibilities sincerely,” Alauddin Marri said.

Published in Dawn, June 23rd, 2018