QUETTA: The provincial government has decided to ensure protection of constitutional powers guaranteed to the province under the 18th Amendment regarding developing of natural resources and exploration of oil and gas reserves in Balochistan.

A meeting presided over by Chief Minister Jam Kamal Alyani on Wednesday reviewed the agenda of the next meeting of the Council of Common Interests (CCI) and finalised its strategy on various points.

The Inter-provincial Coordination secretary briefed the meeting about the matters included in the CCI meeting’s agenda.

The meeting decided to protect Balochistan’s constitutional powers about natural resources and oil and gas exploration in the province.

“These constitutional powers of the province would be fully protected,” a senior official said after the meeting.

The meeting, he said, also decided to acquire services of consultants and experts of these fields.

The food secretary informed the meeting that the authority of quality control standards has been transferred to the provinces after 18th Amendment.

The meeting decided to set up a commission for issuance of registration and licence after consulting all stakeholders.

It also decided to hold a meeting of the task force before the CCI meeting in order to prevent increase in population growth.

The meeting agreed to adopt a strong stance in the CCI meeting for getting Balochistan’s water share according to the 1991 Irsa agreement.

Provincial ministers Mir Zahoor Ahmed Buledi, Mir Asadullah Baloch, Zamrak Khan Piralizai, Mir Nasibullah Marri and Mir Mohammad Khan Lehri, Chief Secretary retired Captain Fazeel Asghar and all secretaries concerned attended the meeting.

Published in Dawn, December 6th, 2019