QUETTA: Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Abdul Qudoos Bizenjo on Thursday said the province is facing a severe paucity of funds and doesn’t even have the money to pay salaries.

Mr Bizenjo said his government has repeatedly informed the federal government about the financial crisis.

But the federal government’s indifference on the matter left him astonished, the chief minister added.

Balochistan is facing the crisis due to the delay in the transfer of its share in the federal resources under the National Finance Commission Award, Mr Bizenjo said, adding that the shortage of funds has badly affected the implementation of development projects included in the current PSDP.

Those affected by floods are still waiting for rehabilitation and bracing extreme weather without any shelter, the chief minister added.

“We can manage and resolve the issues of flood victims if Islamabad transfers our share under the NFC award,” he said.

The prime minister understood our financial problems but departments and officials concerned were not taking it seriously, the CM lamented.

Published in Dawn, January 20th, 2023