QUETTA, Feb 19: The provincial cabinet has asked all the commercial banks working in the province to extend maximum loans to the people of Balochistan and play their effective role in the development of the province.

The cabinet, which met here on Tuesday with Governor Justice (retd) Amirul Mulk Mengal in the chair, reviewed the proposal for establishing Bank of Balochistan.

The provincial Finance Secretary, Saleem Sathi briefed the cabinet about the plan. However, the cabinet, after detailed discussions on various proposals concerning the establishment of the bank, decided to shelve the proposal for the time being, and get more studies conducted through experts in this behalf.

The cabinet decided that all commercial banks in the province would be asked to give maximum loans to the people of Balochistan for the development of agriculture, industry and other sectors. Commercial banks should also play their active role in the speedy development of the province, it noted.