QUETTA: Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani has assured the Balochistan finance minister that he would soon meet Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif and federal ministers concerned to discuss the province’s financial issues.

According to the Balochistan government, it is facing serious financial crunch due to non-payment of dues by the federal government under the National Finance Commission (NFC) award.

The Senate chairman gave the assurance to the provincial Minister for Finance and Food Zamarak Khan Piralizai and Balochistan Finance Secretary Kambir Dashti during a meeting on Friday.

The provincial government’s financial representatives informed the Senate chairman that despite repeated requests of Chief Minister Mir Abdul Qudoos Bizenjo for transfer of the Balochistan’s share under the NFC award, the federal government had given no response which had created a serious financial crisis in the province.

Mr Piralizai informed Mr Sanjrani that Pakistan Petroleum Limited (PPL) was also not paying its outstanding dues of Rs32 billion to the Balochistan government.

The minister said the federal government, despite the request, was not playing its role in forcing the PPL to pay this huge outstanding amount to the provincial government.

The Senate chairman assured the Balochistan finance minister that efforts would be made to resolve the matter immediately.

Mr Sanjrani said he would soon meet the prime minister and request him to order release of dues of the Balochistan government under the NFC award and resolve the issue of PPL’s outstanding dues as well.

Published in Dawn, January 28th, 2023