QUETTA, March 26: Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz says the government has approved 30,000 new posts in various departments, including police and Frontier Corps, in Balochistan. He said at a press conference here on Sunday that the appointments would be made over the next two years.

“We will also try to provide jobs to Balochistan’s youth in various departments of the federal government in addition to their quota,” he said.

The prime minister, however, said the government alone could not provide jobs to people and “we will have to encourage the private sector”.

Balochistan had great potential in mining, fisheries, agriculture, tourism, minerals, livestock and other sectors, where huge investments could be made by the private sector, he said.

He urged the people of Balochistan to keep their minds open and be optimistic about foreign investment in the province, and said that the investors would not take their resources away. “The investment will have positive impact on their life as they will get jobs and their areas will make progress,” he said.

He stressed the need for improvement in the law and order situation, saying that investors would invest in the province only when the environment was conducive.

Speaking at a briefing on development schemes in the province, the prime minister said the government was keen to see that the mega projects were completed at an accelerated pace and it would ensure that they were not delayed because of shortage of funds.

He said the government would ensure optimum utilization of resources provided to the province for the schemes.

He said the government would ensure balance between large and small development projects so that people could get better civic amenities, health and education facilities.

He said Rs2.9 billion distributed among district nazims of the province would be spent on water supply, drainage, dispensaries and school projects and the federal government would monitor utilization of the funds.

He said any hurdle in the implementation of large projects would be removed.

He said Balochistan would get an additional Rs6 billion under the NFC award for its development projects. The province had also been provided a debt relief of Rs2.5 billion and a grant of Rs800 million, he said.

The prime minister also gave a cheque for Rs1 million to the Balochi Academy for compilation of a standard Balochi dictionary.—APP

Amanullah Kasi adds: Addressing the press conference and a meeting of the provincial cabinet, the prime minister said the government believed in resolving issues through negotiations but no compromise would be made on its writ, as a peaceful environment was of utmost importance for investment.

He said the federal government would not allow a state within the state. He said subversive acts were neither in the interest of Balochistan nor of the Baloch people.

Mr Aziz said that the federal and provincial government, and law-enforcement agencies, were doing their job but people should also play their role as there would be no progress without a peaceful atmosphere.

The prime minister accused saboteurs of destroying the peace of Balochistan and said that the elements were enemies of the state and also of the patriotic forces and peaceful citizens of the province.

He said the government would continue to work for progress of the province without compromising on principles and religious traditions.

He said he would like to know who was providing rockets and bombs to the killers of innocent people.

Referring to some recent incidents, the prime minister said some elements were trying to pit people, who have been living in the province for centuries, against each other, but he hoped that the conspiracy would be foiled.

He urged provincial ministers to condemn the saboteurs so that people should know that their representatives were openly raising voice against oppression and excesses.

Expressing concern over the killing of 16 Pakistanis by Afghan security forces, Prime Minister Aziz said the government had lodged a strong protest with Afghanistan over the incident. He said general elections would be held in 2007.