QUETTA: Member of the National Assembly from Gwadar and Lasbela Aslam Bhootani has said it’s true that Balochistan has been denied its due share in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

Talking to newsmen in the industrial town of Hub on Sunday, Mr Bhootani, who is a former speaker of the Balochistan Assembly, said when he had taken up the issue in the past he was blamed for opposing the development process. “Now the provincial government itself is accepting the truth and demanding Balochistan’s share in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor project,” he added.

He said the present chief minister had not spoken on the issue when he was minister of state for petroleum in the Pakistin Muslim League-Nawaz government and all agreements were signed in his presence.

He said Balochistan’s share in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor should be ensured and development projects of the province must be included in the $62 billion mega project.

Blames CM for not speaking on the issue when he was minister in the previous government

Mr Bhootani said the country was facing various issues, including shortage of water and energy as well as financial crisis and increasing foreign loans. “These issues could not be resolved in 100 days. People should wait and extend all support to the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf government for resolving these issues.”

He said that with the industrialisation of Gwadar thousands of jobs would be created for the local people. He disclosed Federal Minister for Shipping and Ports Ali Zaidi had assured him that 30,000 jobs would be available in the port city of Gwadar as the government was making efforts to establish job-orientated industries in the area.

Replying to a question about missing persons, Mr Bhootani said that it was a big issue, but the PTI government and Prime Minister Imran Khan were serious about the problem and it would be resolved soon.

Published in Dawn, December 24th, 2018